CEA asks discoms to curb outages amid record power demand outlook

CEA Urges Discoms to Mitigate Power Outages During High Demand

Theindiapostdaily.com – As the country anticipates unprecedented electricity consumption, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has directed distribution companies (discoms) to prepare emergency response teams and finalize summer contingency strategies to address blackouts and minimize load-shedding during peak periods.

The CEA highlighted that load-shedding—halting power supply in specific regions when demand surpasses supply—is increasingly reported across the nation. While the grid maintains sufficient generation capacity, consumers still face disruptions due to issues in the distribution network.

Record Power Demand Outlook

Peak power consumption reached a staggering 270.8 gigawatts (GW) in May, with the CEA projecting a further rise to 272 GW this year. This surge underscores the urgency for proactive measures to ensure uninterrupted supply.

“Based on insights from states, a large share of summer load shedding stems not from generation shortages but from distribution network limitations, transformer malfunctions, overloaded feeders, insufficient preventive maintenance, delayed infrastructure upgrades, and poor identification of growing demand areas,” Ghanshyam Prasad, CEA chairperson, noted in the advisory.

Prasad emphasized that distribution utilities must shift from reactive problem-solving to scientific planning, leveraging predictive analysis and preventive maintenance to anticipate seasonal demand increases.

Summer Preparedness Measures

The CEA mandated that discoms conduct a comprehensive “Summer Preparedness Review” by February each year. This review should evaluate network capacity, pinpoint transformers and feeders exceeding 80% load, and identify low-voltage zones.

Additionally, all preventive maintenance for 33 kV sub-stations, 11 kV feeders, and distribution transformers must be completed before summer begins. Discoms are advised not to delay essential upkeep during the season unless facing exceptional circumstances.

Emergency Response Framework

Dedicated emergency response teams are to be created to swiftly restore power supply within regulatory standards. These teams should be stationed strategically, equipped with trained personnel, vehicles, tools, testing devices, safety gear like PPE, and critical spare parts.

“These teams must be prepared to respond promptly, ensuring minimal downtime. They should have access to necessary resources, including a stockpile of essential components, and operate under established protocols,” the CEA outlined.

The authority also recommended implementing outage management systems to accelerate fault detection and reduce restoration times.