16 hrs ago
Andhra Pradesh Power Cuts Deepen Farmers’ Household Woes
Many people in Andhra Pradesh are losing electricity for long periods.
The problem is especially serious for farmers who need power for borewell irrigation.
Families are also struggling because the weather is very hot.
Some businesses say evening outages stop them from working.
Farmers and consumers have protested at local electricity substations.
Officials say power is being limited at night on a rotating schedule.
They also say hot weather has increased electricity use and caused some feeders to trip.
Authorities expect the situation to improve when more power becomes available.
Unscheduled power cuts are affecting farmers and households across Andhra Pradesh, especially in Rayalaseema.
Farmers and consumers protested at substations in Panyam and Mydukur over prolonged outages.
Officials said nighttime feeder restrictions are being imposed rotationally, while farmers receive at least seven daytime hours of electricity.
Rising temperatures have increased electricity demand, with air-conditioner and cooler use contributing to feeder trips.
Authorities expect restrictions to ease after about 1,300 MW from the Hinduja and Krishnapatnam projects becomes available.
- Who
- Farmers, households, traders, consumers, and electricity authorities in Andhra Pradesh are involved.
- What
- Frequent and unscheduled power cuts are disrupting irrigation, household comfort, and business activity.
- Where
- The problem has been reported in Kurnool, Nandyal, Kadapa, Guntur, Nellore, Prakasam, and other parts of Andhra Pradesh, particularly Rayalaseema.
- When
- The outages are occurring amid rising temperatures; protests were reported on Thursday and a week earlier.
- Why
- Higher electricity demand, nighttime feeder restrictions, unavailable Srisailam reservoir generation, and repairs to the Krishnapatnam power grid are contributing to the interruptions.
Consumers and Farmers
Electricity Authorities
Reliability of supply
Consumers and Farmers
Farmers, households, and traders say prolonged and unscheduled outages are disrupting irrigation, daily life, and commercial activity.
Electricity Authorities
Officials say nighttime restrictions are being imposed rotationally and that daytime supply is available for farmers.
Reason for interruptions
Consumers and Farmers
Consumers say officials have not provided satisfactory explanations and that calls to substations often go unanswered.
Electricity Authorities
Authorities attribute the difficulties to increased demand, feeder trips, unavailable Srisailam generation, and repairs affecting the Krishnapatnam supply grid.
Prospects for improvement
Consumers and Farmers
Protesting consumers are seeking clear assurances that power supply will become dependable.
Electricity Authorities
Officials say restrictions should decline once roughly 1,300 MW from the Hinduja and Krishnapatnam projects becomes available.
Key facts
- Affected region
- Andhra Pradesh, particularly the Rayalaseema region
- Reported outage duration
- Some Mydukur outages lasted two to three hours
- Farmer electricity supply
- Officials said farmers receive at least seven hours of daytime power
- Expected additional power
- About 1,300 MW from the Hinduja and Krishnapatnam projects
- Peak feeder load
- Increased household use is placing heavy loads on feeders around 9 p.m.
- Daily consumption
- Anantapur: 23 million units; Kurnool: 21 million units; Kadapa: 22 million units; Nellore: 21 million units
Quotes
R. Seshadri Sekhar
Superintendent engineer of Anantapur SPDCL
“Demand has increased because of the rise in temperatures. Once the additional power becomes available, the restrictions will come down”
deccanchronicle.com
“This is sometimes resulting in feeders tripping”
deccanchronicle.com
Farmers protesting at the Panyam substation
Farmers and consumers who protested against outages in Nandyal district
“We have grown only limited crops under borewells and need electricity to irrigate them. But now, the power supply has become uncertain. How can we save our crops under these conditions”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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