Soaring Power Demand Strains Nagpur Network, MSEDCL Rolls Out Rs1,385 Crore Upgrade Plan

Nagpur: With temperatures soaring, electricity demand in Nagpur has hit a record high of nearly 950 MW, putting severe pressure on the city's power distribution network and triggering frequent outages. To meet the rising demand and modernise infrastructure, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) is executing power projects worth over Rs 1,385 crore across the district, including Rs 602.98 crore works funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). MSEDCL said power demand in Nagpur city surged from around 470 MW in February to nearly 800 MW at the start of summer before touching the current peak. The sharp rise has been driven by heavy use of air conditioners, coolers, fans, and other appliances during afternoon and late-evening peak hours.Officials said the excessive load is causing transformers in several localities to overheat, particularly during the evening when consumption rises sharply. In many cases, safety fuses trip automatically to prevent major transformer failures, leading to temporary supply disruptions. The utility clarified that these outages are not due to power shortages but are preventive technical measures to protect the network from larger breakdowns.Apart from overloading, pre-monsoon thunderstorms, strong winds, and lightning have damaged power lines and other infrastructure in several areas. MSEDCL said emergency shutdowns are occasionally carried out to prevent accidents and facilitate restoration work safely.Simultaneously, the utility is undertaking extensive pre-monsoon maintenance, including replacing faulty insulators, trimming hazardous tree branches, and urgent substation repairs to minimise monsoon-related disruptions.The upgradation plan includes construction of 21 new 33/11 kV substations — nine in urban areas and 12 in rural parts of the district — along with capacity enhancement of seven existing substations. The project also involves the installation of 405 transformers, 156 km of overhead lines, and nearly 300 km of underground cabling to improve reliability and voltage stability.In addition, tenders have been floated for another DPR project worth Rs 783 crore. The proposal includes 24 new substations, additional transformers at eight substations and capacity augmentation at four existing facilities. It also envisages laying more than 1,000 km of overhead and underground power lines across the district.MSEDCL officials said the ongoing projects are expected to significantly strengthen Nagpur's electricity distribution network and reduce load-related outages in the coming years. The utility has also appealed to consumers to avoid unnecessary power consumption during peak hours to ease pressure on the system amid the continuing heatwave.