Trainee IAS officers visit Vidyut Soudha, get insight into State’s power sector

Trainee IAS officers visit Andhra Pradesh power utilities for orientation on power sector operations and policies.

A group of seven trainee IAS officersvisited Vidyut Soudha, the headquarters of the Andhra Pradesh power utilities, here on Friday for an orientation on the structure, policies, and operations of the State’s power sector. AP-Genco MD K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu gave them a valuable insight into the functioning of the power sector and its critical role in the State’s infrastructure development. 

A highlight of the visit was a walkthrough the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), which is the centre for real-time grid operations and load management of the power utilities. The SLDC officials explained the role of the facility in monitoring grid stability, balancing supply and demand, scheduling power flows, and ensuring seamless power transmission across regions. They highlighted the AI-based demand forecasting model, advanced digital monitoring systems and real-time data analytics used for load forecasting and grid stability management. 

Mr. Chakradhar Babu explained various aspects of the AP-Genco and AP-Transco, including thermal and hydel power generation, transmission planning, grid operations, project implementation, systems control, and renewable energy integration divisions. He mentioned that steps were taken to make the power sector resilient under the leadership and guidance of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar and Special Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand. 

The trainee officers were also briefed on the policy and regulatory framework of the State’s power sector covering tariff regulations, renewable energy policies, infrastructure investment strategies and public-private partnership models. 

The visiting officers — Sachin Rahar, C. Narendra Padal, D. Prudhvi Raj Kumar, Farheen Zahid, Manisha, Sandeep Raghuvanshi and K.C. Naga Venkata Sahith — also had interactions with AP-Transco Director (Grid) A.K.V. Bhaskar,  Additional Secretary P. Roja and other senior officials of the power utilities.