UPPCL aims to free 17 cities from power cuts

LUCKNOW: The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) is working on an action plan seeking to convert all the 17 municipal corporations in the state into no-tripping zones that will be free from planned and unplanned power cuts.

The corporation claims to have already enhanced power supply hours considerably in cities and villages.

Principal secretary (energy) and UPPCL chairman Alok Kumar held a meeting with officials in this regard here, asking them to prepare a strategy in this connection and warned of action in case of any laxity.

“We have decided to declare 17 municipal corporations as no-tripping zones in the next couple of months for which the discom MDs concerned have been asked to prepare an action plan,” Kumar said.

People familiar with the matter said connecting different areas in these cities to double or alternative source of power supply might be one of the mechanism to put an end to tripping there.

Kumar also directed the officials to enhance the electricity load of consumers were using more electricity load than what was sanctioned to them. He said the increasing use of air-conditioners and other power guzzling devices had created a mismatch between the sanctioned load and actual electricity consumption, resulting in tripping at times.

As per the UPPCL’s records, cities were being provided 22-24 hours of electricity everyday while villages were getting power for 16 hours, which is being seen as a marked improvement over previous years.

The Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) monthly report also shows that peak demand-supply gap in UP was only marginal at 1.5% in April this year. According to the report, UP was able to meet 16697 MW peak demand against requirement of 16945 MW and the shortfall was as low as 247 MW.

“The way the power supply position has improved in the state during last two years, declaring 17 nagar nigams into no-tripping zone is quite possible,” an official said.