Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has embarked upon an ambitious plan to improve the power sub-station network in the rural areas in five coastal districts under its jurisdiction, as part of the ‘power for all’ initiative of the State government.

Elaborate plans

The Discom has undertaken the works to install 40 new sub-stations in five districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, East Godavari and West Godavari. “Forty new sub-stations are being set up at a cost of Rs. 100 crore. The time frame for completion of the works has been fixed at 18 months. The new ones will add to the existing network of 830 sub-stations,”APEPDCL Chairman and managing Director H.Y Dora told
The Hindu.
Giving details about the power consumption by the farm sector, Mr. Dora said West Godavari tops the list and the APEPDCL has elaborate plans to handle the situation.

Apart from strengthening the sub-station network, the Discom has already begun work to convert the high-voltage distribution system (HVDS) to low-voltage distribution system (LVDS). It’s investing around Rs. 140 crore in West Godavari district alone.

“In the earlier system, we would have around 100 power connections from one 100 kv transformer. But, each transformer now will cater to five to six connections, reducing the load.

With this move, the transformer failure rate will drop to the minimum and farmers will enjoy better power supply,” he explained. The farm connection in the State is around 16 lakh and the daily consumption is about 30 million units. Of the total consumption, West Godavari accounts for 6 million units, he said.

Feeder line

The Discom will lay 33 kv feeder line in five districts at a cost of Rs. 80 crore and 33 kv lines will be laid in 6,153 km, he said, adding each feeder supplies power to five sub-stations and now, it’ll will reduce to one or two.

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