Tamil Nadu unveils major power reforms: 50,000 new agri Connections, over 12,500 jobs

Chennai: Minister for Energy Resources and Law, CTR Nirmal Kumar announced 17 major policy initiatives and modernisation measures for the Energy Department focus on expanding agricultural supply, boosting workforce capacity, upgrading infrastructure, and simplifying services for domestic power consumers.

During the demands for grants to his department, the Minister told the House that a total of 50,000 new agricultural electricity connections across Tamil Nadu will be provided during 2026-2027.

"To resolve manpower shortages, 2,558 vacant posts in Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDC) will be filled through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).


He said new single-phase domestic electricity connections that do not require network extension or enhancement will be granted based on a self-declaration, eliminating field inspections.

"To ensure uninterrupted power supply during feeder breakdowns, additional 33 KV feeders will be set up phase-wise across 20 sub-stations in Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 104 crore.

Announcing that an Integrated Data Lake, Enterprise Data Warehouse, and advanced analytics tools will be set up at Rs 25 crore for centralized, secure, and smart data analysis, he said a revised online portal will streamline grid connectivity, open access approvals, and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project permissions.

"An automated WhatsApp chatbot integrated with the Customer Complaint Management System (CCMS) will be introduced at Rs 14 lakh to allow consumers to register complaints and track status," he said.

The Minister also announced that a new bio-gas policy will be formulated to tackle waste disposal, create rural employment, and enhance energy security.