Free Power to Agriculture in AP is the state government’s promise that farmers do not pay for the electricity used to run their pump sets — nine hours of free power every day for agriculture.
For a farmer, the electricity bill for irrigation is one of the biggest costs of cultivation. Free power takes that cost away. Here is how the scheme works, who gets it, and how to get an agricultural connection.
| Scheme | Free Power to Agriculture |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Benefit | 9 hours of free electricity a day for farm pump sets |
| Who gets it | Farmers with an agricultural electricity connection |
| Supplied by | APEPDCL, APSPDCL and APCPDCL |
| Cost to farmer | Nil for the agricultural supply |
What Is Free Power to Agriculture?
Free power to agriculture is the policy under which the Andhra Pradesh government supplies electricity free of cost to farmers for running their agricultural pump sets. The power is supplied for nine hours a day, and the farmer pays nothing for it. The cost is borne by the state government, which pays the distribution companies for the power supplied to agriculture.
The scheme covers the pump sets used for irrigation — borewells, open wells and other agricultural pumping. It does not cover the domestic electricity connection of the farmer’s house, which is billed separately. Free Power to Agriculture in AP has been a long-standing policy of the state, and it continues under the present government.
Who Is Eligible for Free Power to Agriculture in AP?
These conditions apply:
- You must be a farmer with agricultural land in Andhra Pradesh.
- You must have an agricultural electricity connection (a pump set connection) from your DISCOM.
- The connection must be used only for agriculture — for running a pump set for irrigation.
- The pump set must be in the farmer’s name or in the name of the person cultivating the land.
There is no income limit and no land-size limit for the free power itself. Tenant farmers who cultivate the land can also get the benefit if the connection is in their name or if the landowner’s connection is used for their cultivation — ask the DISCOM for the position in your case.
How to Get an Agricultural Electricity Connection
Follow these steps to get a new agricultural connection under Free Power to Agriculture in AP:
- Apply at the DISCOM office in your area (APEPDCL, APSPDCL or APCPDCL) or through the Village or Ward Secretariat.
- Submit the application with proof of land ownership or cultivation — a pattadar passbook, or the tenancy record for a tenant farmer.
- Submit your Aadhaar card and a passport-size photo.
- The DISCOM will inspect the site and estimate the cost of the connection.
- Pay the applicable charges for the connection, if any, and the DISCOM will install the meter and the connection.
- Once the connection is live, the nine hours of free power apply to it.
Keep the land documents ready — the pattadar passbook is the main proof. If you need help with land records, read our guide to MeeBhoomi, which explains how to check your land records online.
How Many Hours of Free Power?
Under Free Power to Agriculture in AP, the state supplies nine hours of free power a day to agricultural connections. The nine hours are usually supplied in two blocks — a day block and a night block — so that farmers can irrigate at different times. The exact timing of the blocks is fixed by the DISCOM and can vary by area and season. Check with your DISCOM or the local electricity office for the supply hours in your area, because the schedule is changed from time to time based on demand and availability. The DISCOM websites — APEPDCL at apepdcl.in — and the AP government portal at ap.gov.in carry the supply schedule and contact details.
How the Government Pays for Free Power
The farmer does not pay for the nine hours of agricultural power under Free Power to Agriculture in AP, but the power is not free to produce. The state government pays the distribution companies for the electricity supplied to agriculture, through a subsidy in the state budget. The DISCOMs record the power supplied to agricultural connections and claim the amount from the government. This is why the agricultural connection must have a meter — the meter records how much power was supplied, and the government pays for it. Farmers should make sure the meter is working and the reading is recorded, because that is how the subsidy is calculated.
Solar Pump Sets: An Alternative to Grid Power
Some farmers are now using solar pump sets, which run on sunlight and need no grid connection at all. Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, the central and state governments give a subsidy for solar pump sets, and the farmer pays only a part of the cost. A solar pump set is useful where the grid supply is irregular or where the field is far from the power line. It also avoids the nine-hour limit, because the pump runs whenever there is sunlight. Ask the agriculture department or the DISCOM about the PM-KUSUM subsidy if you want a solar pump set. For household rooftop solar, read our guide to PM Surya Ghar in AP.
Free Power and Other Farmer Benefits in AP
Free power is one part of the support given to farmers in AP. The other major benefits are the Annadata Sukhibhava income support of Rs 20,000 a year for farmer families, the PM Fasal Bima Yojana crop insurance, and the Kisan Credit Card for crop loans at low interest. Households can also use the PM Surya Ghar rooftop solar scheme to cut their domestic electricity bill, and SC/ST households can use the Jagjeevan Jyothi scheme for 200 free units a month.
Common Problems and Solutions
Power not supplied for nine hours: report the shortfall to the DISCOM office or the toll-free number, with the connection number. Connection delayed: follow up at the DISCOM office with the application number. Meter faulty: ask the DISCOM to replace the meter — a faulty meter can lead to a wrong reading. Power used for non-agricultural purpose: do not use the agricultural connection for a house, a shop or a borewell for drinking water, because that is misuse and can lead to disconnection. Transformer burnt: report it to the DISCOM immediately; the DISCOM is responsible for replacing it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Free Power to Agriculture in AP
How many hours of free power do farmers get under Free Power to Agriculture in AP?
Nine hours a day, for agricultural pump sets. The hours are usually split into a day block and a night block.
Is the free power only for pump sets?
Yes. The free power is for agricultural pump sets used for irrigation. The domestic connection of the house is billed separately.
Can a tenant farmer get free power?
Yes, if the agricultural connection is in the tenant’s name or is used for the tenant’s cultivation. Ask the DISCOM for the position in your case.
Who pays for the free power?
The state government pays the distribution companies for the power supplied to agriculture, so the farmer pays nothing for it.
Final Word
Free Power to Agriculture in AP takes the cost of irrigation electricity off the farmer’s shoulders — nine hours a day, free, for the pump set. If you do not have an agricultural connection yet, apply at the DISCOM with your land documents. For the wider picture of schemes this year, see our guide to Andhra Pradesh schemes in August 2026, and for help with your land records, read our guide to MeeBhoomi.
Last updated: November 2026