Telangana Withstands 7,000 MW ‘El Niño’ Power Shock, No Power Cuts Across State: Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka
Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka said Telangana successfully managed a 7,000 MW El Niño power shock with no power cuts. He also announced India's first Electricity Ambulance Service and AI-enabled 1912 helpline.
Hanamkonda: Telangana’s power system successfully withstood an additional 7,000 MW “El Niño” power shock despite a sharp rise in electricity demand and a decline in hydel power generation, Deputy Chief Minister and Power Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said on Wednesday. Speaking during a review meeting at the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana (NPDCL) Headquarters in Hanamkonda, he said the State recorded a peak power demand of 16,500 MW, while 2,000 MW of hydel power generation came to a halt. Despite these challenges, Telangana ensured uninterrupted, free and quality power supply without any power cuts.
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Bhatti Vikramarka Reviews Power Sector at NPDCL Headquarters
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, who also holds the Power portfolio, reviewed the progress of the power sector at the NPDCL Headquarters in Hanamkonda.
The review meeting was attended by:
- Minister Konda Surekha
- Minister Ponnam Prabhakar
- MLA Nayini Rajender Reddy
- Nagaraju
- NPDCL CMD Varun Reddy
- Senior officials
Telangana Faced 7,000 MW Additional Burden Due to El Niño
Bhatti Vikramarka said the adverse impact of El Niño created summer-like electricity demand even during the monsoon season.
He explained that:
- The normal monsoon peak demand of 11,000 MW unexpectedly increased to 16,500 MW.
- At the same time, 2,000 MW of hydel power generation stopped due to a lack of water in irrigation projects.
According to him, this created an additional burden of 7,000 MW on Telangana’s electricity distribution system.
Despite the pressure, electricity department staff worked round the clock and implemented advance planning to ensure uninterrupted power supply across the State.
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‘There Are No Power Cuts in Telangana’
Bhatti Vikramarka clarified that there are no power cuts in Telangana.
He said temporary interruptions occur only when:
- Heavy rains
- Strong winds
- Trees fall on electricity poles and power lines
These disruptions are caused by natural calamities and should not be mistaken for scheduled power cuts, he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister also appreciated officials for resolving public issues through innovative programmes such as:
- Praja Bata
- Polam Bata
Loan Restructuring to Make DISCOMs No.1
Bhatti Vikramarka said the government is restructuring old loans that were taken at higher interest rates to reduce the financial burden on power utilities.
He expressed confidence that NPDCL and SPDCL would become the No. 1 DISCOMs in the country through financial restructuring.
Telangana Launches India’s First Electricity Ambulance Service
The Deputy Chief Minister announced that Telangana has introduced the country’s first Electricity Ambulance Service to improve electricity services.
He said the initiative has been launched on the lines of the 108 ambulance service in the health sector.
The Electricity Ambulance vehicles will carry:
- Transformers
- Ladders
- Electrical wires
- Expert engineers
The vehicles will remain available round the clock to attend electricity emergencies.
AI-Enabled 1912 Helpline for Faster Service
Bhatti Vikramarka said consumers can call the toll-free number 1912 to report electricity-related emergencies.
He explained that:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology will receive the complaint.
- The information will be automatically forwarded to the Electricity Ambulance team within seconds.
- Based on the message received, the ambulance will reach the location within minutes and resolve the problem immediately.
Government Announces Welfare Measures for Electricity Staff
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government is fully committed to the welfare of linemen and electricity employees.
He announced that:
- A Rs 1.20 crore insurance cover has been provided to the families of employees who lose their lives while performing duty.
- Safety kits and uniforms have been supplied to prevent accidents during line clearance operations.
Free Power Schemes Continue
Bhatti Vikramarka said under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, the Finance Department is paying electricity bills directly to DISCOMs for 53 lakh families receiving free electricity up to 200 units.
He also stated that the Finance Department directly releases Rs 14,000 crore every year to DISCOMs as subsidy for 30 lakh agricultural pump sets across Telangana.
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said Telangana’s electricity system successfully handled a 7,000 MW El Niño-related power shock despite a peak demand of 16,500 MW and the shutdown of 2,000 MW hydel power generation. Speaking at the NPDCL Headquarters in Hanamkonda, he reiterated that there are no power cuts in Telangana, announced India’s first Electricity Ambulance Service with an AI-enabled 1912 helpline, and highlighted welfare initiatives for electricity employees along with continued support for free power schemes.
