AP sets benchmark in energy efficiency, conservation, says Chief Secretary

Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a role model for other states in the areas of energy efficiency and conservation, driven by forward-looking policies, effective programme implementation and sustained institutional commitment, Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand said on Saturday.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the National Energy Conservation Week 2025 celebrations organised by the Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Mission (APSECM) in Vijayawada, Vijayanand said the state’s structured approach to energy conservation began as early as 2015 and has since delivered measurable results across sectors.

“Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a role model to other states of the nation in the areas of energy efficiency and energy conservation, driven by its forward-looking policies, effective implementation of energy efficiency programmes, and sustained commitment across industries, buildings, institutions and urban local bodies,” he said.

During the event, the Chief Secretary presented State Energy Conservation Awards to public and private organisations that demonstrated excellence in energy efficiency in the buildings, industries and institutional sectors.

Highlighting specific interventions, Vijayanand said street lighting in Visakhapatnam was converted to LED illumination following Cyclone Hudhud, resulting in energy savings of up to 45 per cent. With the support of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), over two crore households across the state were covered under LED lighting programmes, leading to nearly 30 per cent energy savings, he added.

The Chief Secretary also pointed to significant gains in the industrial and agricultural sectors through the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, a national energy-efficiency programme implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power. Under the PAT mechanism, energy-intensive industries are assigned mandatory efficiency improvement targets and are rewarded with tradable Energy Saving Certificates if they exceed those targets. Andhra Pradesh industries have completed three PAT cycles, achieving cumulative energy savings of about 1.35 million tonnes of oil equivalent, he said.

Alongside technological interventions, Vijayanand underscored the importance of policy measures. The state has introduced mandatory energy-efficient and green building norms, resulting in approvals for 2,000 to 3,000 green buildings, he noted.

Referring to the state’s long-term climate strategy, the Chief Secretary said the Integrated Clean Energy Policy, aimed at achieving Net Zero carbon emissions, has set a target of 160 GW of green energy capacity, of which projects worth 100 GW have already been approved.

Emphasising the role of public participation, Vijayanand said awareness initiatives remain central to the state’s approach. As part of this effort, 1,550 Energy Literacy Clubs have been established in schools across Andhra Pradesh. “Energy conservation is a shared social responsibility and is essential not only for cost reduction but also for environmental protection,” he said.

Later, the Chief Secretary held a review meeting with officials of the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Limited (APCPDCL) and directed them to ensure time-bound completion of all ongoing power sector schemes. He asked officials to focus on rooftop solar projects, feeder-level solarisation, loss-reduction works under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), smart metering, and expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.