Nagpur: Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) is set to overhaul its ground assets as it has earmarked an outlay of Rs 1,500 crore for utilisation during next three financial years. The reason for investment in procurement of machines and updating the system is to cope up with the steady rise of power due to rapidly changing lifestyles that in turn is intertwined with rapid urbanisation in the State, excluding Mumbai.
For the same, the Discom has chalked out the Nirantar Vij Yojana (Continuous Power Supply Scheme), wherein efforts would be laid on replacement and installation of new transformers. Since Distribution Transformer’s role is very important, the policy focus is on the same aspect as MSEDCL bosses realised that their toning is key to improvement of the system. During the three financial years, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, the focus mainly is going to be on distribution transformers as they are critical in handling the electricity load.
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Friday 22 Nov. 2024
Additional Executive Engineer (Maintenance) at division office is named as Nodal Officer for execution of Nirantar Vij Yojana. The officer will coordinate with field units and other departments wherever necessary and higher authorities for effective execution of the scheme. Chief Engineers are tasked with taking stock of the implementation on a monthly basis and plug the shortcoming through effective intervention, said the circular issued by Dattatray Padalkar, Executive Director (Dist.- II).
For the same MSEDCL has procured distribution transformers (DTs) of different ratings, as depending upon load factor they can be fitted to cater for even distribution of power so that end users get sufficient load. Over the years, transformers capacity has remained static while demand is surging against the backdrop of increased desire for luxury and comfortable life. To meet the higher electricity demands, the transformers should be able to cater as their failure rate has increased owing to surging power demand.
The Head Office has chalked out a detailed plan wherein focus would be on augmentation and improvement of Distribution Transformers at places where frequent tripping were recorded. These areas could be business districts or residential colonies where post redevelopment individual houses have given way to high rises which means electricity footprints have increased manifold.
Transformers that are 15 years or older than that would be taken off and replaced with new advanced machines. More importantly, some of the transformers which failed to cope with heavy demand are requiring higher maintenance costs too. And most importantly, the oil in the transformers plays a crucial role as they ensure higher performance by keeping it running and cool and hence it would be replaced or topped up to desired level.
The field units have been told to directly scrap old transformers as their presence is only going to keep taxing the manpower for keeping it running. The installation of new transformers would cut down losses and automatically improve the relay system helping gain consumers confidence in the power system.
Explaining the rationale for replacement of distribution transformers, the circular pointed to the fact that some of the transformers are repeatedly failing and the likely explanation for the same could be ageing, overloading, high losses after repairs etc. In this light, for reliable power supply, restricting failure of the DTs is the need of the hour.
