A huge demand for setting up new feeders in suburbs
Per Capital demand in two years: Expected to be 2200-2500 units.
Hyderabad: With a quantum jump in power demand in residential areas around the IT Corridor, authorities are going for tie-ups with individual societies for installing feeders in the areas. Per capita power consumption in suburban areas is increasing by 21-23 per cent each year, as against an increase of 7-8 per cent in core city areas. Currently, work on 35 feeders for residential schemes with heavy demand is under process.
Also, an increasing number of requests for separate feeders are pouring in from residential areas around the corridor as these areas have been at the receiving end of breakdowns due to load. For example, in Madhavapuri hills, a separate feeder is being set up which will cater to four huge housing complexes. The TSSPDCL has plans to double the total feeder strength of 11 KV feeders (roughly 3500) and 33 KV feeders (roughly 300) in the city over the next three years. Areas where large residential societies show interest will be taken up on priority basis.
The constant growth in residential areas around the IT corridor in the last couple of years has put a lot of strain on the transmission and distribution infrastructure. During the past few months when temperatures were at their peak, although there were no scheduled power cuts imposed by the discoms, several hours of power cuts were recorded. These were mostly due to load related failures.
“Areas around the IT corridor have been facing a problem of load related trippings. Some cuts were imposed due to sudden increase in loads after office hours, which were resulting in trippings as the loads in many new and developing areas were continuously going above the feeder capacity. We are now enhancing the capacity wherever possible. Wherever possible we are going for tie-ups with housing societies and communities for setting up separate feeders,” said a superintending engineer from the area.
While there is a huge demand of upgrading and establishing new feeders in suburban areas, officials say that it remains unmet due to shortage of staff and time taken in establishing more infrastructure. The pace at which demand is increasing in these areas is too high to match. Meanwhile, the average per capita consumption in the city is estimated at 1100 units per individual and that of the state at 985 units, against the national average of 917 units.
Breakdown of feeders and substations
In the last two years, substation and feeder breakdowns have been most common in the newly developed and developing areas, despite a backup system. In fact, the huge load during peak hours, has resulted in breakdowns of subsequent sub-stations as a ripple effect. Moreover, the bigger residential complexes need separate feeders as they are alone enough to pull down the sub-stations in an area and result in a feeder tripping.
There is a need for setting up close to 2,000 feeders in the suburban areas, but the pace at which transformers and feeders are set up, is not sufficient. When there is a tripping in one area, back-up supply from surrounding areas is started which usually increases the load in surrounding areas as well. In the recent summer months, seven incidents of such chain trippings due to the load jumps were recorded, said the officials.
Usage of air-conditioners increases load suddenly after working hours and the infrastructure is unable to bear the load which might result in a grid failure too. On several occasions, sub-stations of Gachibowli, RC Puram and Kukatpally had power shutdowns, pulling down nearby substations too.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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