Electricity demand touched all-time record, power minister appealed for the cooperation of consumers

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 7, 2023

The state's electricity demand has crossed the all-time record in Tripura recently. Until now, during Durga Puja, the maximum demand for electricity in a day was around 332 MW. There, the demand has exceeded 357 megawatts in the heat of summer before Puja. Not only this, due to excessive use of electricity, stress is increasing on transformers and other components. That's why different areas are drowning in darkness due to the burning of transformers or wires fires and technical faults. Staff officials of Vidyut Nigam are repairing the defects day and night. Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said this at a press conference in Mahakaran on Wednesday, explaining the helpless condition of the State Electricity Corporation in the midst of intense pressure. The Power Minister requested the power consumers by sitting the managing director of Vidyut Nigam, Debashish Sarkar, not to cause suffering to the entire area due to their own ignorance. Electricity consumers can increase the use of fans, coolers along with the use of AC machines at home or office to get relief from the abnormal heatwave. It is a matter of their personal preference. But before doing that, the local office of Vidyut Nigam must be informed. Because the transformer is installed in that area depending on the local electricity demand. If customers increase their power consumption, transformer reinforcement can also be used with higher power cables if required. And because of this, the transformer is frequently breaking down, the wire is getting burnt. Due to which electricity is being disconnected for some time in the concerned area. And this is what some people are complaining about as load-shedding, expressing their anger due to hardship in summer. But until the customers are aware, extend their hand of cooperation to the power corporation, till then such problems will continue. The power minister also said that currently there is no load shedding even for a minute in the state. Even during times of incredible demand for electricity, without load shedding, electricity is being bought from outside the state at high prices and reaching the consumers at almost half the price. But if the parts fail and the area is cut off, there is nothing the corporation can do. Even then, 15 cars are kept ready 24 hours a day and night for repairing faults in Agartala city alone. Three experienced staff are also kept for each vehicle. Even after that, all the work cannot be completed on time. The Minister thanked the employees of Vidyut Nigam for maintaining 24 hours service despite the anger of the people in some places. The Minister of Electricity said on this day, noticing the severity of the heat, the corporation appealed to the public in April last, as a conscious consumer, they should inform the local office about the increase in electricity consumption. But it has received very little response. But this year's electricity demand has surpassed the all-time record. And because of this, the electricity equipments are breaking down frequently. The Minister also requested the electricity consumers to cooperate with Vidyut Nigam to make the state free from frequent power cuts.