APEPDCL Area Solar Power Capacity Reaches 589 MW

Visakhapatnam:Solar power capacity in the area covered by Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has reached 589 MW, its chief general manager G. Syambabu said on Wednesday.

Delivering a lecture on PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana organised by the Public Relations Society of India’s Visakhapatnam chapter, Syambabu advised households to adopt solar energy to reduce their electricity bills.

He pointed out that as of October 13, APEPDCL had registered 1,48,770 applications and installed rooftop solar systems at 1,04,820 households adding 331.53 MW capacity. Eligible households receive central assistance for installation of systems up to 3 kW capacity and substantially cut monthly power bills.

Apartment residents can benefit through virtual net metering. House owners across can install solar panels and use the power credits in their apartments.

Solar installations of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households are being linked to the state’s free power subsidy programme. Against a target of 400.05 MW covering 2,00,027 consumers, APEPDCL has installed systems totalling 257.39 MW involving 1,28,697 beneficiaries.

For backward class households, APEPDCL has proposed 2-kW rooftop systems for 3.5 lakh consumers, with a projected capacity addition of nearly 700 MW.

The APEPDCL chief GM said under PM-KUSUM, proposals envisage 220.30 MW solar power supply to 49,533 agricultural pump sets through 252 feeders connected to 108 substations. Feeder-level solarisation is expected to provide reliable daytime power and reduce procurement costs.

The company has proposed solar plants totalling 43.87 MW at 1,567 government buildings under the Renewable Energy Service Company model.

Syambabu urged public relations organisations and government departments to raise awareness within the public about solar power incentives and installation procedures, saying public participation is essential to expand adoption of renewable energy.

Those present at the meeting included APEPDCL Visakhapatnam circle superintending engineer B. Simhachalam Naidu, PRSI chapter president M.K.V.L. Narasimham, secretary A. Govinda Rao, and treasurer N.V. Narasimham, apart from other PRSI members and APEPDCL officials