The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) is steadfastly working towards the timely completion of various projects initiated under the Centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), according to a recent statement from the company's Chairman and Managing Director, I. Prudhvitej, during an exclusive interview with Hello Vizag.

Under the RDSS, APEPDCL has outlined three major initiatives, with the current focus being on the implementation of the smart-meter scheme. Prudhvitej explained that smart meters are being installed for industrial units, commercial establishments, and government offices across the 11 districts falling under the APEPDCL jurisdiction, encompassing approximately eight lakh consumers.

The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance energy auditing capabilities and combat power theft effectively. Prudhvitej detailed, "All smart meters will be integrated with the IT cell of the Discom, and every kilowatt of power used will be recorded in the central server. We will do away with the manual reading and payment method."

He emphasized that smart meters will function similarly to prepaid mobile phone services. Customers will have the option to pay in advance based on their previous usage, monitor their power consumption and balance through a dedicated app, and recharge as needed. Additionally, there will be a grace period for recharge, ensuring uninterrupted power supply.

The installation of smart meters in every household has been mandated by the Union government, with a 93-month timeline and an estimated project cost of ₹1,034 crore. The deployment will initially target high-paying consumers before extending to the broader domestic consumer base, which totals around 70 lakh connections.

The second major initiative involves feeder segregation, with the aim of providing round-the-clock three-phase electricity connections to rural households. Prudhvitej elaborated, "As of now, there is only single-phase connections in rural areas, and we intend to enhance it to three phase...

We will continue with the nine-hour free power for agriculture." To achieve this, 922 new feeders will be installed at substations, with a projected cost of ₹1,250 crore and an anticipated completion timeframe of 24 months.

The third initiative under the RDSS is the extensive underground power cable project in Visakhapatnam. With a total project cost of ₹1,165 crore, the Union government will contribute 60% of the funding, with the remainder covered by the Discom.

This project will encompass the installation of approximately 1,000 kilometers of underground cables, covering areas within zone II and zone III. Localities such as Muralinagar, Madhavadhara, Madhurawada, and PM Palem will benefit from this development.

The project, awarded to Raghava Construction, is expected to conclude by 2025, according to Prudhvitej.

APEPDCL's unwavering commitment to these initiatives signifies a significant step towards enhancing the efficiency and reliability of power distribution, ultimately benefiting the consumers and communities it serves.

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