Breather from blackouts for IT sector?

Department of IT has written to the APERC to exempt IT & Communications sector

Software companies in and around the twin cities are likely to get a breather from the severe power cuts.

In a silver lining in an otherwise bleak power scenario, the Department of Information Technology has written to the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) to exempt the IT & Communications sector from statutory power cuts. The suggestion has been made in light of representations submitted by the IT and ITeS Industry Association of Andhra Pradesh (ITsAP) seeking exemption from the power cuts that was hitting the 24X7 operations catering to different time zones. ITsAP president V. Rajanna, during a series of meetings with the government, complained that in addition to power cuts, the industry was being served “severely crippling and unreasonable” notices by the Central Power Distribution Company Limited. The CPDCL threatened the industry with slapping fines and disconnection if the units exceeded their permitted demand limit by more than five per cent.

“Power cuts have become so acute that the industry is forced to fall back on diesel generators for captive power. This has not only increased the operational costs by over 60 per cent, but is only contributing to increasing the carbon footprint four to five times,” Mr. Rajanna said in his complaint.

IT Department Secretary Sanjay Jaju told

The Hindu that the government responded to the representations of the IT sector and sought the APERC to accord special status to the segment. The letter to the commission also contained the ICT policy 2010-15 wherein it was assured that the IT sector would be exempted from statutory power cuts to ensure seamless operations. “The request is pending with the APERC and we are hopeful of a positive response from the commission,” he said.