Hyderabad: Power cuts farmers face have intensified as electricity demand rises across Telangana. Agricultural consumers are bearing the impact as officials manage the increasing load on the power grid.
Farmers said agriculture is currently receiving less than 8–9 hours of electricity in several areas. They also complained that the limited supply is frequently interrupted and affected by low voltage.
According to farmers, electricity supply is being interrupted 3–4 times a day. Field-level consumers often do not know when the power will be restored or disconnected.
As a result, farmers have been approaching substations and staging protests over unannounced cuts. They have also raised concerns about inadequate voltage affecting agricultural operations.
Engineers said the government had directed officials to stop supply to agricultural feeders whenever demand increases. The measure is being implemented as part of grid management during periods of higher electricity demand.
The state has witnessed a steady rise in electricity demand in recent days. Officials are therefore managing supply across agriculture, households, commercial establishments and industrial consumers.
Agricultural feeders are receiving electricity according to different schedules in various areas. Some feeders are reportedly supplied from 5 am to 5 pm, while others receive power from 6 am to 5 pm.
In some locations, the supply schedule begins at 7 am and continues until 5 pm. However, farmers said these schedules do not guarantee uninterrupted supply throughout the stated period.
Power cuts farmers face worsen as demand reaches new peak
Farmers said interruptions are occurring even within the scheduled supply hours. In several areas, electricity is reportedly being cut 3–4 times during the period of agricultural supply.
In Aitipamu of Nalgonda district, agriculture is reportedly receiving less than 9 hours of electricity a day. Farmers there have raised concerns over the reduced and interrupted supply.
Meanwhile, Chigurumamidi mandal in Minister Ponnam Prabhakar’s constituency is receiving power from 6 am to 5 pm. Farmers said the supply is interrupted by a one-hour cut during this period.
Electricity consumption and peak demand in Telangana have increased significantly in recent times. The peak demand recorded on September 30 stood at 19,892 MW.
That figure was 7,525 MW, or 61 percent, higher than the peak demand recorded on September 30, 2023. Electricity consumption has also increased considerably across the state.
Daily consumption stood at 213–270 million units between the last week of September and the first week of October last year. It has now crossed 310 million units, according to the figures cited in the source.
The increased demand is also affecting industrial consumers. Emergency load relief measures have resulted in power cuts at several industrial estates.
In Greater Hyderabad, industrial areas including Uppal, Nacharam and Cherlapalli have experienced official power cuts. Cherlapalli industrial estate faced a two-hour interruption.
Power cuts were also imposed in Phase-2, Phase-3, Phase-4 and Phase-5 under emergency load relief measures. Meanwhile, areas under the Habsiguda circle were divided into A, B and C categories for implementing two-hour cuts.
Habsiguda, Sainikpuri and Keesara divisions were among the areas covered by the emergency measures. Power supply to some locations was stopped from 6 pm on Saturday.
Industries in Mallapur, Nacharam and Moulali also faced interruptions. Power supply to these areas was reportedly stopped at around 5:30 pm on Wednesday.
The rising demand has therefore put pressure on supply management across multiple consumer categories. Farmers, however, remain particularly concerned because agricultural feeders are being curtailed when the system load increases.