Hyderabad: Following its plan to launch a third power distribution company, the state govt established Telangana Rythu Power Distribution Company Limited (TGRPDCL) for efficient management of electricity supply to the agricultural sector. The new discom will become operational from April 1 with IAS officer Musharraf Ali Faruqui as its chairman and managing director.Currently, two discoms are functioning in the state — the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGSPDCL) and the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGNPDCL). All agricultural electricity connections in the state, lift irrigation schemes, Mission Bhagiratha water supply systems, connections under Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), and municipal water supply connections under the LT VI-B category will now come under TGRPDCL.The new discom will oversee procurement of power as per the allocated Power Purchase Agreement share; onboarding of new agricultural power connections; operation and maintenance of assets, including distribution transformers and LT lines; accounting of power consumption for lift irrigation, and HMWSSB through DTR (distribution transformer) metering and consumer metering; and ensuring regulatory filings and compliance with applicable norms.The govt also issued orders appointing V Tirupati Reddy, P Krishna Reddy, V Mohan Rao, and Dr N Narasimhulu, who are currently serving as directors in the Southern and Northern Telangana discoms, as members of the board of directors of the new company. The state govt, in its order, directed that the required officers and staff for TGRPDCL may be arranged through deputation, direct recruitment, or outsourcing mechanisms.Through this initiative, the state govt seeks to ensure focused management of electricity supply to the agricultural sector, improve service efficiency, and provide reliable services to farmers.
