APEPDCL to expand solar power use, promote virtual net metering
APEPDCL will step up efforts to promote rooftop solar power and raise awareness of virtual net metering, CMD Immadi Prithvi Tej said on Friday.
Inaugurating a two-day workshop for senior officials at the APEPDCL corporate office, Mr. Prithvi Tej directed officials to ensure that eligible BC consumers received the benefits available under the Centre’s PM Surya Ghar scheme and the State government’s additional ₹20,000 subsidy.
He said Andhra Pradesh was the first State to implement virtual net metering regulations. The system would benefit residents of apartments and group housing societies by enabling them to use rooftop solar power.
The CMD said the State aimed to promote solar power systems in nearly 30 lakh households in line with the targets set by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Increased solar adoption would help reduce power purchase costs and support the organisation’s operational and financial targets for 2028-29.
Advance notice on power interruptions
Mr. Prithvi Tej directed officials to inform consumers in advance about maintenance works, Line Clear (LC) activities and planned power interruptions through social media and division-level WhatsApp groups.
He said timely communication was essential as consumers were increasingly sensitive to even brief power outages.
APEPDCL is investing ₹1,800 crore to ₹1,900 crore in infrastructure to enhance the quality and reliability of power supply. Officials were asked to explain the benefits of new substations, additional transformers and underground power cable systems, particularly in cities such as Visakhapatnam.
Push for digital payments
The CMD also directed officials to reduce offline electricity bill payments in urban and municipal areas from the current 25% to nearly zero.
He said awareness campaigns on Mana Mitra WhatsApp governance services, UPI and QR-code payments should be conducted at the village level to raise the share of digital payments to more than 90%.
The workshop will focus on solar power expansion, virtual net metering, consumer communication, digital payments and distribution network management.
Director (Operations) T.V. Suryaprakash, Director (Projects and HRD) T. Vanaja, Director (Finance) S. Haribabu, and senior officials, including General Managers, Superintending Engineers from 11 circles, Senior Accounts Officers and Executive Engineers, attended the workshop.