The bold experiment — 24x7 free power
In January 2018, the Telangana government under K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR / BRS) became the first Indian state to provide 24-hour uninterrupted free 3-phase power to all agricultural pump connections. The decision marked a structural break from the prevailing national pattern — most states give 6 — 9 hours of free or subsidised power on a daily schedule (Punjab, Haryana, AP, Karnataka, MP, Rajasthan). Free 24x7 power has been continued unchanged by the successor Congress government from December 2023.
The economics are unusual: ~28 lakh agricultural pump connections at 0 tariff. State government subsidises the entire consumption — reimbursing TSSPDCL (Telangana Southern Power Distribution Co.) and TSNPDCL (Telangana Northern Power Distribution Co.) to the tune of ~₹11,000 — 12,000 cr per year (FY 2024-25). The policy choice reflects the depth of Telangana's irrigation transformation post- bifurcation: Kaleshwaram and other lift-irrigation projects required pump-driven water delivery to fields, making free 24x7 power the political bargain for the rural electorate.
What you get
- Zero electricity bill on any 3-phase agricultural pump connection.
- 24-hour availability — no scheduled cut-off (unlike Punjab's 8-hour free-power slot or AP's 9-hour rotational scheme).
- All HP categories covered — 3, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 HP connections.
- Existing pre-paid metered consumers transitioned to zero-tariff billing under the policy.
Eligibility
- Telangana farmer with a TSSPDCL / TSNPDCL agricultural-category electricity service connection (3-phase or single-phase for small pumps).
- Pattadar Passbook (Bhu-Bharati / Dharani) or pahani for the land where the pump is installed.
- Aadhaar linkage to the service connection number.
How to register / claim — step by step
- If you have an existing agricultural service connection: no action needed — your bill is auto-credited under the subsidy account.
- For a new agricultural connection: apply on tssouthernpower.com (or TSNPDCL portal for northern districts) with Aadhaar, pattadar passbook, pump-set specification, site sketch.
- DISCOM Assistant Engineer (AE) inspects site; sanctions load capacity (typical 5 — 10 HP); release order issued.
- Beneficiary pays for service connection cable and transformer share (capital cost — typically ₹20,000 — 50,000 depending on distance); state may subsidise this for SC/ST under SCDC schemes.
- On energisation, all consumption is zero-billed; DISCOM separately receives the state subsidy via cabinet release.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- December 2023: Congress government assumes office; commits to continue 24x7 free power.
- 2024-25: State subsidy ~₹11,000 cr reimbursed to TSSPDCL + TSNPDCL; some payment delays reported and subsequently cleared.
- March 2025: Meter installation on agricultural connections continued for consumption tracking (no billing impact).
- August 2025: Convergence with PM-KUSUM Component C — feeder solarisation tendered for select substations to reduce DISCOM subsidy burden.
- 2025-26: 24x7 free power continued; policy review on metering and load-sanction tightening.
Common rejection / failure modes
- Pattadar Passbook missing: pump connection requires pattadar identity; informal tenant cultivators have to use the landowner's connection.
- Excess load drawn: drawing load above sanctioned HP may trigger meter capping; disconnection followed by re-sanction process.
- Non-agricultural use: using agricultural connection for domestic / commercial purposes is a violation — disconnection + penalty.
- DISCOM payment delay: occasional payment delays to DISCOMs have caused power-cut disputes; resolved via cabinet release.
Grievance: TSSPDCL / TSNPDCL Lineman → AE → DE → Superintending Engineer → Telangana Power Regulatory Commission. State call centre: 1912.
Coverage statistics
Per TSSPDCL and TSNPDCL annual reports, the scheme covers approximately 28 lakh agricultural pump connections across Telangana's 33 districts. The consumption metered on agricultural feeders runs at ~25 — 30 billion units per year. Subsidy reimbursement to DISCOMs has been in the ₹10,500 — 12,500 cr range across FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25. The bulk of agri-power consumption is in the Kharif and Rabi peaks (June — February). District-wise figures and tariff orders are published in Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC) tariff filings, state budget documents, and DISCOM annual reports. Telangana's 24x7 model has been studied by other states; AP's 9-hour day-time free-power scheme is the next-closest policy.
How this scheme stacks with other schemes
Free power is the energy rail for Telangana's irrigation-intensive agriculture. Rythu Bharosa (₹12,000/acre/year cash) handles input cost; Rythu Bima (₹5 L life cover) handles mortality risk; Rythu Vedika is the GP-level extension hub. PM-KUSUM offers solar-pump conversion. PMFBY covers crop loss; KCC-MISS finances inputs. The Kaleshwaram and Sitarama lift-irrigation projects are the upstream water source many of these pumps draw from. Free power has been a politically central commitment of successive Telangana governments — KCR's BRS (2014 — 2023) and Revanth Reddy's Congress (2023 — present) both retained the policy.
Related
- Rythu Bharosa.
- PM-KUSUM (solar pump conversion).
- Telangana state guide.