Discoms geared up to cut outages, mishaps

New Delhi: Delhi govt has directed power distribution companies to ensure necessary infrastructure is in place to prevent any incidents of electrocution during the monsoon season. The discoms have outlined essential steps, such as raising transformer base heights in flood-prone areas, deploying quick response teams and establishing war rooms for prompt resolution of complaints.
“To reduce the incidence of breakdowns, active measures have been taken to minimise the accumulation of moisture in the grids and panels. These include increasing the height of the foundation (base) of transformers in low-lying areas to safe levels, preventing waterlogging that may create seepage and moisture in switchgear, fencing around pole-mounted transformers and deployment of QRTs to tackle exigencies,” BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) stated on Tuesday.

As a precautionary measure, the discom has issued an advisory warning saying the risk of electricity-related accidents is higher due to waterlogging during the monsoon season and asked people to maintain a safe distance from electricity poles, sub-stations, transformers and streetlights. “People must caution children from playing near electricity installations, even if they are barricaded. Advise them not to play in parks that are waterlogged,” said an official.
The official said power theft poses a significant safety hazard, particularly during the monsoon months. “Invariably, these wires that are ‘hooked onto’ are not insulated or properly fixed. If it’s windy or rainy weather, they can fall off and cause grievous injuries, even fatalities,” he added.
Another cause of outages is unplanned digging for road repairs or to lay cables and pipelines. “This not only leads to power cuts, sometimes for long durations, but can also be a serious safety threat for residents and passersby. For your safety, if you dig or come across digging, please inform BSES,” the official urged.
Tata Power-DDL said as part of the pre-monsoon safety drive, it is conducting inspections and maintenance of electrical equipment and lines installed in public areas. So far, it has undertaken leakage testing of 1.7 lakh poles, 1,734 PWD and MCD poles, 492 ATMs and 1,549 streetlight poles installed in MCD and DDA parks. Proper maintenance of the earthing of electrical installations is also being done to ensure their effectiveness, it added.
“Heavy rainfall brings an array of challenges, such as waterlogging, strong winds and lightning, all of which can adversely affect the power infrastructure. Understanding these challenges, Tata Power-DDL has intensified its efforts and taken proactive measures to spread awareness about electrical safety among consumers to mitigate risks while ensuring public safety,” said a senior official.
Tata Power-DDL said that it is conducting regular visits to check meters in hospitals, malls, schools and colleges to ensure a seamless supply of power in the coming months, he said.