The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has directed power distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the state to provide 24×7 electricity supply to all consumer categories, except agricultural consumers.

For agricultural consumers, DISCOMs must supply power for the number of hours and at the times specified by the Andhra Pradesh government from time to time.

The directions apply to cities and towns with populations above 100,000, based on Census 2011 data and information submitted by the DISCOMs.

APERC also prescribed DISCOM-wise targets for the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) and the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) for 33/11 kV feeders, excluding industrial feeders, supplying power to these urban centers.

The directions took effect from May 20, 2026.

Background

APERC said Regulation 7 of 2004 prescribed guaranteed standards, overall standards of performance, and compensation payable by distribution licensees for failure to meet service standards under Section 57 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

The regulation also specified reliability indices, including the System Average Interruption Duration Index, which measures the average duration of supply interruptions experienced by consumers, and the System Average Interruption Frequency Index, which measures the average number of interruptions experienced by consumers.

The Commission referred to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Power. The rules state that distribution licensees must supply power 24×7 to all consumers. They also allow State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to specify lower hours of supply for certain categories, such as agriculture.

The rules also require state regulators to specify reliability parameters, including SAIDI and SAIFI, and to prescribe trajectory-based targets to ensure a reliable 24×7 power supply in towns with populations above 100,000.

APERC said the Ministry of Power also asked all State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to ensure compliance with the rules.

Following this direction, APERC collected information from the state’s DISCOMs on towns with populations above 100,000, year-wise SAIDI and SAIFI data for the previous five financial years, and proposed reliability trajectories for future years.

Commission’s Analysis

The cities and towns covered under Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company are Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram, Vizianagaram, Eluru, Gudivada, Machilipatnam, Chirala, and Ongole.

The towns covered under Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company are Guntur, Tenali, Narasaraopet, Vijayawada, Mangalagiri, and Chilakaluripeta.

The areas covered under Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company are Ananthapur, Kadapa, Proddatur, Kurnool, Nandyal, Nellore, and Tirupati.

For Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company, APERC prescribed SAIDI and SAIFI targets of 25 hours and 15 minutes and 49 interruptions, respectively, for FY 2026 to FY 2027. The targets must improve to 24 hours, 30 minutes, and 33 interruptions, respectively, by FY 2031.

For Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company, APERC prescribed a reduction in SAIDI from 26 hours in FY 2026 to 25 hours and 15 minutes in FY 2030 to FY 2031. SAIFI must decline from 47 interruptions to 31 interruptions over the same period.

For Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company, APERC prescribed a reduction in SAIDI from 23 hours and 56 minutes in FY 2026 to FY 2027 to 23 hours and 51 minutes in FY 2030 to FY 2031. SAIFI must decline from 67 interruptions to 63 interruptions over the same period.

The Commission said DISCOMs would have to pay compensation to affected consumers as specified in the practice directions dated June 30, 2017.

APERC directed the DISCOMs to undertake system-strengthening measures, infrastructure augmentation, and the deployment of adequate skilled manpower and technology to meet the reliability indices.

The Commission said capital expenditure proposals must follow investment guidelines approved by it from time to time. The DISCOMs must also include compliance reports on these directions with the Standards of Performance information submitted to the Commission each quarter.

In April this year, APERC approved the state distribution companies’ performance review petitions for the financial year 2025, allowing limited changes to future resource plans, such as revisions to demand, sales, and energy requirements, based on actual performance.

Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time Regulatory Updates to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.