HYDERABAD: Rachel Chatterjee, CMD, Transco, has said power tariff for industries will be reduced by 14 paise a unit for 2006-07 subject to approval by to the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission.

After releasing the 2006 diary of the Andhra Pradesh Power Diploma Engineers' Association here on Tuesday, she said the tariff for commercial users also would be reduced.

The Transco wanted reduced rates for these two categories to wean them away from captive generation. Any hike in the rate would force them to make purchases from private suppliers.

Pat for employees

She said the procurement cost of power had gone up but the Transco kept the rates constant for the fifth consecutive year while at the same time ensuring free power supply to agriculture due to the efficiency and commitment of employees. It had also initiated several cost-cutting measures.

As other States failed in supplying free power, Andhra Pradesh had succeeded. This as due to steps like single-phase supply to pumpsets, separation of all the 5,000 rural feeders from the rest of the network, and theft control, she said.

March 31 deadline

Ms. Chatterjee fixed March 31 as the deadline for erection of capacitors by farmers on their pumpsets and asked engineers to ensure proper supply as rabi crop and student exams were at hand.

Ajay Jain, MD, AP Genco, Heeralal Samaria, CMD, AP Central Power Distribution Company, and other officials highlighted power sector achievements.

L. Madhusudan Reddy and B. C. Reddy, association's president and secretary-general, spoke.

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