Lights almost off in AP’s power sector; Centre’s help sought to switch them on

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government has sought the Union government’s intervention to bail out its beleaguered power sector that has plunged into deep crisis during the lockdown and sought special assistance to bridge the huge revenue gap.

While electricity consumption fell by a fifth, the state saw a 80% fall in revenue collections during the lockdown period, with an estimated loss of Rs 2,500 crore in revenue collection during the June quarter following 3,200 million units of fall in consumption.

The government said its power distribution companies (discoms) are now in a near-bankrupt state and their accumulated losses by December 2019 amounted to about Rs 29,000 crore.