SRINAGAR: With the rapid dip in mercury and simultaneous increased utilisation of electricity, the Kashmir region is witnessing significant damage to Distribution Transformers (DTs) in rural and flat-rated areas compared to metered localities.
Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) Chief Engineer (Distribution), Aaquib S Waheed Deva said that the department is experiencing widespread damage to DTs, particularly in non-metered areas.
“KPDCL is witnessing major damage to DTs in non-metered and flat-rated areas. In these areas, consumers exceed the sanctioned load, which results in damage to the DTs,” she said.
Deva further added, “In some areas where meters are installed but are operating on bare conductors, consumers are using crude heating gadgets and are illegally consuming power beyond the sanctioned load.”
“In areas where smart metering has been completed, very little damage has been recorded so far,” she noted.
“In the first week of December, KPDCL recorded damage to more than 250 DTs. We have repaired and fixed these issues as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), but there has been no relief in the frequency of damage,” Deva said.
As per earlier reports, an average of at least 50 DTs with varying load capacities are being damaged daily in the Kashmir valley.
“On average, at least 50 DTs are getting damaged every day. The primary reason for this damage is overloading and the use of crude heating gadgets,” an official said.
He added, “Most of the DTs are being damaged in rural areas where the majority of consumers are unmetered.”
Speaking about the cost of repairing DTs, the official said, “On average, the cost of repairing the majority of damaged DTs ranges from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.” (KNO)
