60 new transformers to bring relief in Noida this summer

NOIDA: The power department has announced it will install 60 new 400 kV transformers across Noida to ease the load and regulate voltage problems before summer hits. “We have got the clearance for these new transformers today. We hope to have them installed before summer this year,” said Arvind Rajvedi, superintending engineer of Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) on Friday.
The power department has been given a month’s time to carry out the installation work.
“We will finish installing all these transformers by next month so that we are better prepared for the summer months,” said Rajvedi.
The new transformers, once installed, are also expected to ease congestion and transmission loss. D K Jain, executive engineer PVVNL, Noida, though added a warning. “If transmission bottlenecks within sectors are not cleared, there can be shortage of power supply,” he said.
Despite such measures, the power department expects a shortage in supply of 8-10%. “While peak demand for Noida was 1,050 MW in June last year, this year it is expected to go up to 1,150 MW,” said Rajvedi.
Last year, in addition to the regular and long outages — some lasting as long as 12 hours at a stretch — fluctuating voltage wrecked havoc in residential areas.
Several residents complained of household electrical gadgets, including air conditioners, televisions, water purifiers, microwave ovens, kitchen mixers, pumps and even inverters burning fuses and even breaking down as a result of huge and sudden power surges in the system. The long outages also led to collateral damage as many residential colonies had to face life without water for several days.
Industry in Noida complained they had resigned themselves to a reality of 10-12 hour long power cuts, which affected production and working hours.
According to Rajvedi, the fate of power supply in Noida during summer 2015, will also depend on weather conditions. “If the weather is as cruel as 2014, we will face problems in meeting the demand,” he said.