NVI Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 22(NVI): The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has once again urged consumers to use electricity judiciously to prevent damage to local Distribution Transformers (DTs) and the resultant power outages.
On November 21 alone, 49 DTs were damaged across the Kashmir valley, highlighting a sharp increase in unsanctioned heating loads throughout all divisions of the region.
Expressing concern over the rising rate of DT damage as winter sets in, a KPDCL spokesperson urged domestic consumers to strictly adhere to their sanctioned load limits and avoid using unauthorized heaters and boilers, which are banned by the government. “While 49 DTs were reported damaged on November 21, 32 were damaged on November 20, 37 on November 19, and 40 on November 18,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson further clarified that KPDCL’s central workshop in Pampore, along with divisional workshops, is operating in double shifts to repair damaged DTs and restore them to service. “Out of the 158 DTs damaged across the Kashmir valley in the last four days, 143 were repaired and restored during the same period,” he said.
Attributing the rising rate of DT damage and power outages to the widespread use of unauthorized heaters and boilers, as well as illegal hookups to bare conductors in metered areas, the spokesperson stated that KPDCL has intensified its inspection and disconnection drives across all electric divisions in the Kashmir valley to curb power theft.
“On November 21, KPDCL conducted 1484 inspections across all 18 electric divisions, during which 1396 domestic and 514 commercial installations were disconnected for unauthorized power use,” the spokesperson said. He added that the inspection drives will be further intensified on a daily basis across all districts in the Kashmir division.
Anticipating further DT damage during the peak winter months, KPDCL has maintained a buffer stock of 1554 DTs. “We have also kept a reserve stock of DTs to manage any unforeseen damage due to increased load,” the spokesperson said, noting that last year’s buffer stock was pegged at 1412.
Reaffirming KPDCL’s commitment to replacing damaged DTs within the stipulated timelines, the spokesperson clarified, however, that repeat damage to DTs due to unsanctioned loads may lead to longer repair timelines, considering the limited manpower available at KPDCL’s central workshop in Pampore and divisional workshops. (News Vibes of India)
