Energy Minister Ravi Kumar Directs Awareness Drive On Daytime Power Use, Solar

Minister calls for efficient power use

Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar has directed officials to build widespread public awareness about efficient electricity consumption, including the use of power during daylight hours to reduce pressure on the system at night and during peak demand periods.

He also called for greater promotion of renewable energy sources and extensive outreach for the ‘PM Surya Ghar’ scheme to encourage more rooftop solar power installations.

Focus on demand management and solar power

The Minister’s emphasis on daytime electricity use is aimed at easing the strain on the power system during periods when demand is higher. The proposed awareness campaign is expected to focus on how consumers use electricity, while also drawing attention to renewable energy options and rooftop solar systems under the ‘PM Surya Ghar’ scheme.

The directions were issued as the government outlined measures to strengthen both power generation capacity and the distribution network. Mr. Ravi Kumar said that increasing generation capacity was being accompanied by efforts to improve the distribution system.

He said pending substation projects were being expedited and new substations were being established. The government was also taking up the strengthening of transmission infrastructure and the implementation of underground cabling in urban areas.

The Minister said the Electricity Department played a pivotal role in attracting investments and creating employment opportunities by ensuring uninterrupted power supply to industries. The focus on substations, transmission infrastructure and underground cabling comes as efforts are being made to strengthen electricity supply in urban and industrial areas.

43 compassionate appointments handed over

Mr. Ravi Kumar, along with Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, MLAs Palla Srinivasa Rao and Velagapudi Ramakrishna, and APEPDCL CMD Pruthvi Tej Immadi, handed over appointment letters to 43 eligible candidates appointed on compassionate grounds.

The appointment letters were presented at a programme held on Monday at the APEPDCL corporate office in Visakhapatnam. The Minister said the alliance government was committed to supporting the families of electricity employees who died while on duty.

He said compassionate appointments were being provided to eligible family members expeditiously. Appointments that had remained pending for the past two-and-a-half to three years were being expedited so that eligible families would not have to make repeated visits to government offices.

“So far, over 445 compassionate appointments have been made across the three power distribution companies as well as the transmission and generation corporations,” he said.

The Minister further said approximately 6,500 to 7,000 personnel had been brought into the Electricity Department by absorbing energy assistants in Village Secretariats into the department. He said 629 assistant engineer posts in the Electricity Department were also being filled through a transparent recruitment process.

Minister inspects consumer complaint centre

MP Sribharat advised the newly recruited employees to work responsibly and do justice to both their profession and their families. Speaking at the programme, TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was prioritising compassionate appointments to support the families of employees facing hardships.

Later, the Minister visited the APEPDCL 1912 call centre to inspect its operations. He enquired about consumer complaints, the staff’s response to them and the time taken to resolve issues.

Mr. Ravi Kumar personally observed how call centre staff interacted with consumers and spoke directly to some consumers to understand their grievances. The visit placed the handling and resolution of consumer complaints alongside the broader measures being taken to strengthen the power system.

Earlier in the day, the Minister commissioned a 220-kV gas-insulated substation at Achutapuram in Anakapalli district. The substation was constructed at a cost of ₹77.29 crore as part of efforts to strengthen power infrastructure in the rapidly industrialising region.

Source: The Hindu