Hyderabad: In a major move to revamp Telangana’s power sector and enhance the delivery of welfare schemes, chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday directed officials to establish a third power distribution company (discom) dedicated exclusively to managing all govt-funded electricity schemes.This new entity will operate alongside the existing Telangana Southern and Northern Power Distribution Companies. It will oversee key initiatives, including 24×7 free electricity to agriculture, 200 units of free power to poor households and free electricity for govt schools and colleges.“The new discom should function with statewide jurisdiction for all welfare-related electricity consumers. This restructuring will not only ease the burden on the current discoms but also improve their national ratings. Financial and operational reforms are essential,” Revanth said during a review meeting at his residence with deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka and senior energy department officials.Deputy CM Bhatti said the govt currently supplies 24×7 free power to over 29,000 agricultural pump sets, for which it pays Rs 11,500 crore annually to discoms. Additionally, around 50.71 lakh low income families benefit from 200 units of free electricity every month, with the govt allocating Rs 2,293 crore for this. Further, Rs 198 crore is being spent to provide free electricity to 29,018 govt educational institutions.In total, the govt is spending Rs 13,992 crore per year to subsidise power for agriculture, the poor, and the education sector, Bhatti said.Revanth also emphasised the urgent need for restructuring discom finances. He instructed officials to create a comprehensive plan to reduce interest burdens on high-cost loans – some borrowed at interest rates of up to 10%.“Restructure these loans to secure lower rates,” he told officials.Highlighting the need to scale up renewable energy use, the CM said solar power systems should be installed across all govt offices, including schools and colleges. He asked collectors to identify suitable buildings for solar plant installation and to move forward with plans on a war footing.Revanth also instructed immediate arrangements for solar power at the state secretariat. These include setting up solar rooftop sheds for vehicle parking, solar fencing and panels to meet the building’s energy needs.The CM underscored the importance of implementing the Indira Solar Giri Jala Vikasam scheme, aimed at equipping 2.10 lakh Scheduled Tribe farmers with solar-powered agricultural pump sets over the next three years. The goal is to bring six lakh acres of tribal land under irrigation through sustainable power, he said.
