Energy efficiency is another power plant, says Bhatti

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Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka at the 25th CII Energy Efficiency Summit in Hyderabad on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Energy demand can be met not only by generating more electricity but also by reducing consumption through efficient use of power, said Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

“The unit of electricity we save by avoiding unnecessary consumption is cheaper than the unit of electricity we generate,” he said at the 25th CII Energy Efficiency Summit 2026 held in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Addressing the summit, he called for energy efficiency to be viewed not merely as an environmental protection measure but as a strategy to enhance economic competitiveness.

He said energy policy had so far been viewed largely from the supply side. “We have focused on our power generation capacity, availability of coal, how much renewable energy can be added and how much transmission infrastructure is required,” he said.

However, he pointed out that there is another power plant right before us — one that requires no chimney, coal mine, land or new transmission line. That is energy efficiency, he said.

Electricity consumption can be reduced through efficient motors, advanced cooling systems, energy-efficient buildings, improved industrial processes and smart energy management systems. If every megawatt of power demand can be permanently reduced, the pressure on the entire power system can be brought down, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that as Telangana continues to develop rapidly, the State’s electricity requirements will increase further in the coming years. More investments are needed in industries, manufacturing, data centres, life sciences and electronics, he said.

He said there was a need to improve people’s quality of life while simultaneously accelerating economic growth. Since electricity demand is rising, slowing down development is not the solution, he said, adding that the solution lies in generating greater economic activity from every unit of electricity consumed.

If industries reduce their electricity consumption, their operating costs will also come down, Mr. Bhatti said. A reduction in peak power demand in the State would ease pressure on the generation and transmission systems. It would also strengthen the country’s energy security while reducing environmental impact and emissions, he explained.

Energy efficiency, he said, not only reduces the operating costs of businesses but also improves resource productivity.

Great innovations, he observed, do not always have to originate in laboratories. A technology that succeeds in one industry can be adopted by another. A solution developed for a problem in the cement industry could be useful in the steel industry, while an energy-efficiency practice implemented in a paper mill could serve as a model for other sectors, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said next-generation technologies would play a crucial role in improving energy efficiency. He called for wider adoption of modern technologies such as renewable energy, electrification, digitalisation, smart energy management and artificial intelligence.

Mr. Bhatti said Telangana offers a favourable environment for investments. He highlighted the State’s world-class international airport, improved road network, Outer Ring Road, reliable power supply, skilled talent, favourable environment and law-and-order situation as its major strengths. Telangana is a friendly and industry-oriented State, he said. The government considers investors to be “wealth creators,” he added.

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