‘Our stand vindicated’: Months after Adani row, YSRCP slams TDP as regulator approves power purchase from SECI

Former Andhra minister and YSRCP leader Kakani Goverdhan Reddy said the APERC’s order “affirms and vindicates YSRCP’s stand on the SECI agreement”.

“…It’s a slap on the face of the TDP and its friendly media that has doled out story after story levelling baseless allegations. DISCOMs had never before entered into such an agreement earlier and it is the initiative of Jagan Mohan Reddy that has benefitted the state of `1.10 lakh crore, but (Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu had been saying that the state was losing `87,500 crore due to the agreement with SECI. There were numerous attempts to discredit YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to cover up the misdeeds of Chandrababu Naidu and the APERC statement has set the record straight,’’ Goverdhan Reddy said.

He said the APERC has endorsed the 7,000 MW power purchase agreements made in 2021 when the YSRCP was in power, stating that they are within the purview of the guidelines of the aggregate revenue requirement. For the year 2025-26, DISCOMs have sought permission to buy 4,000 MW solar power from the state regulatory body, he said. “This makes it clear and our stand is vindicated while N Chandrababu Naidu and his coterie have lost face on the issue,” he said.

Sources said APERC officials took into account that senior officials in the Jagan government’s finance, energy and revenue departments did not make any negative remarks or express dissent regarding the PPAs.

Reacting to the APERC order, state Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, who opposed the PPAs, told The Indian Express on Saturday that the government will examine the order and take action accordingly.

While the probe on the PPAs was going on, several TDP leaders told The Indian Express that it is very difficult to scrap the agreements as there are many legal issues. Cancelling the PPAs would lead to disruption in power supply which the TDP-led NDA government did not want, the leaders said.