AP Mulling Power Tariff Hike As Oppn Threatens Statewide Protests

Vijayawada: The green signal given by the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) to allow Discoms to recover Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment (FFPCA) to the tune of Rs6,073 crore for the power consumed in 2022-23 has sent shock waves across the State.

While the State Government has strongly defended the move, the opposition parties including the CPI and CPI (M), the Congress and the YSR Congress Party, which has 11 members in the Assembly have threatened separately to go on an agitation if the authorities did not refrain from burdening the consumers. They also came down heavily on the TDP-led NDA Government for going back on its promise not to hike power tariff in the future before forming the government.

Ironically, the TDP has found itself on the defensive while blaming the YSRCP for encouraging shady deals with private companies for purchasing power leading to heavy losses by the Discoms, the opposition parties are gearing up to hit the streets over the implementation of, what they termed, ‘a very unpleasant’ decision within a few months of forming the new government.

State Power Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar blamed the YSRCP for the present state of affairs, saying the government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had taken several key decisions with vested interests entailing a heavy burden on the Discoms.

Stating that Jagan has no moral right to speak, he said he himself requested the APERC to increase power tariff. The Minister said Jagan increased power tariff nine times during his tenure.

CPI (M) leader Ch Narsinga Rao and CPI leader K. Ramakrishna said they will oppose lock stock and barrel against the hefty hike in power tariff hike.

Meanwhile, YSRCP spokesperson and former MLA Rachamallu Sivaprasad Reddy demanded an immediate rollback of the power tariff hike by the TDP-led coalition government and cautioned to organise widespread protests if the government failed to act. He criticized the tariff increase, stating it adds a significant financial burden on 70 per cent of consumers, with each household’s expenses rising by around Rs400 per month.

He told the media at Proddatur that while the government is launching a free gas scheme for Diwali, promising to save households Rs200 per month, it simultaneously raised power tariffs, adding Rs6,073 crore annually to consumer costs. This, he noted, will heavily impact those using 200 to 300 units of

electricity per month.