Andhra Pradesh Power Demand Reaches 290 MU as State Expands Grid Infrastructure

UPDATE - follow-up to Daily power demand rises to 290 MU in Andhra Pradesh, says Energy Minister Ravi Kumar: Andhra Pradesh faces a daily electricity demand now standing at 290 million units, up from 265 million units earlier.

Grid Expansion

Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar and MLA Damacharla Janardhana Rao inaugurated a new 132/33 kV AP-Transco substation on Thursday at Kothapatnam in the Ongole Assembly constituency. Built at a cost of 44.25 crore rupees, this facility forms part of a wider state-wide push by AP-Transco, which is investing around 6,000 crore rupees to build new substations. Prakasam district alone has 11 completed substations and seven more under construction.

Generation and Supply

To manage the higher load, AP-Genco is ramping up power generation while authorities buy extra electricity from other sources. The state government also accuses the previous YSRCP administration, which held office from 2019 to 2024, of neglecting the power sector by halting substation projects despite available funds and identified land. Beyond power upgrades, the Minister inaugurated a Skill Development Centre and a Centre of Excellence for electric vehicles and drone technology in Ongole, alongside reviewing plans for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's public meeting on Friday.

Context

Power utilities routinely expand transmission networks and procure short-term power to prevent outages during demand spikes. These infrastructure investments help stabilize local distribution grids as domestic and industrial consumption grows.