Free power to handlooms, power-looms to be rolled out from April 1 in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh to provide free electricity for handlooms and power-looms starting April 1, benefiting over one lakh weaver families.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has announced a major welfare measure for the handloom and power-loom sector, rolling out free electricity as promised in the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) 2024 joint manifesto.  

Presenting the Budget for 2026–27, Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav said the scheme will come into effect from April 1, 2026, providing up to 200 units of free power per month to handloom weavers and 500 units to power-loom units.  

The promise was originally made in the joint manifesto released by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) ahead of the 2024 elections.  

The Minister stated that more than one lakh families engaged in weaving activities are expected to benefit from the new scheme, which aims to reduce input costs and revive the traditional textile sector.  

The free power initiative for looms will be implemented in addition to existing electricity subsidy programmes for farmers, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Backward Classes (BCs) and minorities.  

Under the Energy Department’s Outcome Budget indicators, assistance to the Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited (Andhra Pradesh TRANSCO Limited) for agricultural and allied subsidy is estimated at ₹12,832 crore for 2026–27. This includes nine hours of free power supply to 20.86 lakh agricultural consumers.