K Vijayanand, the Andhra Pradesh Special Chief Secretary for Energy, has directed power utilities to maintain adequate coal stocks and to ensure sustained power generation as the state prepares for the upcoming summer season amid global tensions affecting coal imports. He instructed that power utilities should closely monitor coal availability and coordinate effectively with ports and Railways to secure smooth coal movement to power plants. The directive was framed as crucial to support an uninterrupted power supply and to meet rising electricity demand during peak summer months. He urged that all generating units be operated at full capacity to support grid stability during peak demand hours and asked the Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGENCO) to assess imported coal requirements for the Krishnapatnam Thermal Power Plant and to finalise supply schedules at the earliest. The secretary stressed advance planning so that generation remains uninterrupted through the summer and potential supply bottlenecks are mitigated. Officials were instructed to maintain close liaison with transport agencies and suppliers to expedite deliveries. He congratulated APGENCO for achieving a record 6,101 Megawatt (MW) power generation and 5,730 MW ex-bus generation, noting these were the highest figures since the corporation's inception. He also commended the Andhra Pradesh Power Development Company Limited (APPDCL) for achieving 2,339 MW out of 2,400 MW capacity with a 97.45 per cent plant load factor. The government is reported to be focusing on measures to reduce the cost of power generation so as to lower the overall cost of supply to consumers in the state. The Special Chief Secretary said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed exploring all possible measures to optimise generation costs and to ensure affordable power supply. He noted that the rainfall forecast for the upcoming monsoon season is not encouraging and that this may increase dependence on thermal power generation. Vijayanand emphasised the importance of efficient resource management and advance planning to handle any surge in demand and to ensure grid reliability.