The issue of electricity tariffs in Andhra Pradesh is a deal again. The YSR Congress Party is strongly disagreeing with the Telugu Desam Partys claims that the former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy increased power tariffs nine times during his five-year term. This supposedly burdened consumers with ₹32,000 crore. Pushed power utilities into debt. The YSR Congress Party also says that the Telugu Desam Party government weakened AP Genco.
The YSR Congress Party says that the Telugu Desam Party government is distorting facts and misleading the public. They claim that the Chandrababu Naidu-led government imposed an electricity burden of over ₹20,000 crore on consumers in its first year.
YSRCP says there were no power tariff hikes during Jagans term
The YSR Congress Party argues that the Telugu Desam Partys claim that Jagans government repeatedly increased electricity charges is false. They say that reforms implemented during the government significantly reduced operational costs of power utilities. The true-up burden was reduced by ₹5,252.93 crore, which eliminated the need for tariff hikes on consumers.
At the time the YSR Congress Party alleges that the current government is collecting thousands of crores through true-up charges, surcharges and other mechanisms even though it claims not to have increased electricity tariffs.
How did consumers face a burden of ₹20,135 crore?
The YSR Congress Party released a breakdown of the burden imposed by the current government:
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Additional burden imposed since late 2024 | ₹6,072.86 crore |
| Charges collected through January 2025 bills | ₹9,412.50 crore |
| True-up recoveries for FY 2024-25 | ₹2,787 crore |
| Total | ₹20,135.50 crore |
The YSR Congress Party says that these collections effectively increased the burden on consumers even though the government claims that power tariffs were not raised.
Who pushed power utilities into debt?
The Telugu Desam Party government has alleged that power distribution companies accumulated debt ₹49,596 crore during the YSR Congress Party regime. However the YSR Congress Party strongly disputes this claim.
According to figures released by the party the debt growth under the Chandrababu Naidu government was 24% while the debt growth during the Jagan government was only 7.3%. The YSR Congress Party also says that power distribution companies had to borrow a ₹38,836 crore to pay interest on loans taken during the earlier Telugu Desam Party administration.
Was AP Genco. Strengthened?
The Telugu Desam Party has accused the government of weakening AP Genco by failing to ensure adequate coal supplies. However the YSR Congress Party presented data suggesting that AP Genco was strengthened during Jagans term.
| Indicator | TDP Regime | Jagan Regime |
|---|---|---|
| Generation Capacity | 7,213 MW | 8,789 MW |
| Increase in Capacity | — | 1,576 MW |
| Total Power Generation | 27,197 MU | 34,181 MU |
The YSR Congress Party claims that while power holidays and electricity shortages were common during the earlier Telugu Desam Party government the Jagan administration successfully met a demand of 81,293 million units without imposing power cuts.
Coal availability and thermal power generation improved
The YSR Congress Party further stated that both coal availability and thermal power generation improved significantly during its term.
Key figures released by the party include:
- Thermal power generation increased from 14,948 MW to 17,102 MW.
- Coal availability rose from 93% in 2022-23 to 96.52% in 2023-24.
- Coal consumption increased from 12.40 million tonnes to 14.74 million metric tonnes.
The YSR Congress Party says that these figures contradict claims that AP Genco was starved of coal supplies.
Power purchase agreements created financial burden
The YSR Congress Party alleged that expensive power purchase agreements signed during the Telugu Desam Party government imposed a massive financial burden on power distribution companies.
According to the party these agreements were signed for 8,000 MW of power with a purchase price of around ₹7 per unit. The agreements created an annual burden of approximately ₹3,500 crore, which will continue for 25 years.
Has Telugu Desam Party changed its stand on SECI power?
The YSR Congress Party also accused the Telugu Desam Party of changing its position on electricity procured from the Solar Energy Corporation of India.
The party noted that the Telugu Desam Party had earlier criticized the SECI power agreement but is now purchasing electricity under the arrangement at ₹2.49 per unit.
Questions raised over meters and five-star transformers
The YSR Congress Party says that the Telugu Desam Party had strongly criticized the procurement of five-star rated transformers and smart meters during the previous government.
However the party now alleges that the same government is purchasing transformers from the same companies.
DISCOM ratings:. Recognition?
While the Telugu Desam Party government has claimed that Andhra Pradesh power distribution companies have fallen to “C” and “D” grades the YSR Congress Party cited recognitions received during its term.
These include the National Energy Conservation Award for Andhra Pradesh and several national awards for AP Transco and NEDCAP.
Who benefited from subsidized power?
The YSR Congress Party stated that 39.64 lakh consumers received free or subsidized electricity during its term.
Beneficiaries included farmers, aqua farmers, livestock sector beneficiaries and several other communities.
Power tariff debate: let the people decide
The YSR Congress Party maintains that the Telugu Desam Party governments campaign regarding electricity tariffs is based on misinformation.
The party argues that facts and data tell a story and claims to have provided evidence-based responses to every allegation. The YSR Congress Party says that the ultimate judgment should come from the people themselves. The YSR Congress Party is asking people to look at the facts and decide for themselves. The issue of electricity tariffs in Andhra Pradesh is an one and the YSR Congress Party is trying to provide a clear picture of what happened during its term. The YSR Congress Party is saying that the Telugu Desam Party government is trying to mislead people and it is up, to the people to decide what is true and what is not.
