Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 22: Amid soaring temperature, Jammu region is grappling with frequent power outages due to transformer failures and thus forcing the residents to suffer during the scorching heat wave.
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Even as the Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL) authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and making all out efforts in restoring stable power supply across the region, the significant increase in the transformer malfunction due to overloading and increased temperature is making things difficult to handle with.
The situation has led to daily power cuts, with urban areas experiencing up to four hours of scheduled load-shedding and rural regions facing six to eight-hour outages.
Official sources told the Excelsior that total 835 cases of transformer damage in Jammu region have been reported till date during the ongoing month of May while the number of such cases in the last month was 873.
“While daily average of damage to transformers in the month of April was around 29, it significantly increased to above 40 during the ongoing month of May because of increasing temperature and the situation can be gauged from the fact that more than 60 transformers got damaged in a single day on May 20,” sources added.
As Jammu is witnessing more severe heat wave this year, the number of transformer damage cases is also higher in comparison to the last year. As per the available records, 763 transformers got damaged in April 2024, while in the month of May last year, damage to 1163 transformers was reported.
According to Chief Engineer Kamal Kumar Thapa, JPDCL is making all out efforts to address the public grievance related to power supply in the backdrop of transformer malfunctions primarily due to overloading caused by excessive use of cooling appliances during the summer months .
“In response to the crisis, we have maintained a buffer stock of transformers ensuring timely replacement of the damaged ones as early as possible to mitigate the impact of the power outages,” he said, adding that replacement of damaged transformers is being done within eight hours in urban areas, 12 hours in rural areas and 24 hours in remote areas.
To avoid damage to transformers because of overloading due to excessive use of cooling appliances and consequent overheating during summer, JPDCL is left with no option other than to resort to power cuts, both scheduled and unscheduled.
“Except essential feeders, scheduled power curtailment from two to four hours is being enforced depending upon transmission losses in the area,” informed the Chief Engineer, claiming that no scheduled power curtailment is being made in the areas with less than 15 percent transmission losses.
Thapa further informed that significant upgradation of transmission lines, replacement of overloaded transformers and metering under Loss Reduction Scheme have helped to significantly reduce the power losses and consequent scheduled power curtailment.
JPDCL Chief Engineer urged the residents to use electricity judiciously and adhere to sanctioned load limits to prevent further strain on the power infrastructure for avoiding scheduled power cuts.
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