APSPDCL achieves 50,000 rooftop solar grid connections, a first for Andhra discoms

Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) announced on Monday that it has connected 50,000 services to the electricity grid under its rooftop solar programme. This milestone makes it the first among the three power distribution companies (discoms) in the state to achieve the feat.

According to official data from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) portal under the Utility Led Aggregation (ULA) model, Andhra Pradesh has secured the fourth position nationally in rooftop solar installations. APSPDCL is implementing a project to install rooftop solar systems with a total capacity of 415 MW on 2.07 lakh houses across nine districts in its jurisdiction.

The 50,000 connections bring tangible benefits to households, including lower electricity bills and a potential source of income if they feed surplus power to the grid. The initiative also reduces the load on conventional power plants, contributing to environmental sustainability.

In a statement, APSPDCL Chairman and Managing Director Siva Sankar Lotheti said that solar systems with a capacity of 203.95 MW have been installed for 1.01 lakh households so far. "We will complete the installation for the remaining households by the end of this month," he said. The remaining capacity is expected to cover the additional 1.06 lakh houses targeted under the scheme.

The company has also prioritised making solar power accessible to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) families. This is in line with the state's efforts to ensure that benefits of renewable energy reach underprivileged sections. The initiative is part of a broader push to promote non-conventional energy sources.

Rooftop solar installations allow households to generate their own electricity and feed surplus power into the grid, reducing their dependence on conventional power. Under the ULA model, discoms aggregate demand from multiple households, negotiate with vendors, and oversee installation, which lowers costs and simplifies the process. The MNRE portal provides transparent tracking of progress.

The achievement by APSPDCL reflects the accelerating adoption of solar energy in Andhra Pradesh. The completion of the remaining installations by the end of this month is expected to strengthen the state's position further. Rooftop solar is a key component of India's renewable energy strategy, contributing to the national goal of increasing non-fossil fuel capacity.

Officials noted that the data on installations is updated regularly on the MNRE portal. The scale of the project, with a target of 415 MW across more than two lakh houses, underscores the commitment to decentralised clean energy. By reaching the 50,000-connection milestone, APSPDCL has demonstrated progress in integrating renewable energy into the grid while maintaining reliability.