Technical snag may cause load shedding in Chakan MIDC area

Pune: An official from MSEDCL said a technical snag of a 50 MVA capacity power transformer of the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) 400 KV high voltage substation at Chakan has caused a power deficit of about 10 to 15 MW.
Following this, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is making a desperate effort to manage the load.
However, due to the high demand, there is a possibility that some power lines in the area may have to temporarily go through load shedding.
An MSEDCL official said, “MSETCL’s 400 KV extra high voltage substation at Chakan has three power transformers of 50 MVA capacity each, from which 110 MW electricity is supplied to Chakan MIDC.”
“One of the three power transformers failed after midnight on June 1. After investigation, it was found that the failed transformer will need replacement, which will be completed by June 6,” the official added.
Meanwhile, to manage the power load, the remaining two power transformers are being used to their full capacity.
If load shedding cannot be avoided given that there is a substantial increase in demand, Nanekarwadi, Kuruli, MIDC, Force Motors, Chimbli, Alandi Phata and Khalumbre areas will face load shedding on a rotational basis during the daytime.
There are a total of 3,924 consumers across all the three lines, of which 74 fall in the high-pressure category and 3,850 are low-pressure category domestic, commercial and industrial consumers.
MSEDCL officials said on Sunday that due to the increased power demand, the power load at MSETCL’s Chakan and Lonikand 400 KV extra high voltage substations had also increased significantly.
Since it was not possible to manage the extra load of electricity in this high-pressure substation, the electricity load was regulated via load shedding through an automated system around 2.30 pm on Sunday.
Due to this, Chinchwad, Ravet, Valhekarwadi, Tathawade, Punawale, Thergaon, Wakad and some parts of Pimpri under the Pimpri division saw load shedding of around 90 minutes, while Bhosari, Nashik Road, Moshi and Bhosari MIDC under Bhosari division was without power for an hour. Chakan MIDC too did not have power for half an hour.
Earlier on June 2, the rain and strong winds resulted in the crashing of hoardings in several areas of Chakan, resulting in a power outage for almost 46,000 consumers, stated a press statement from MSEDCL.
It added that due to rains, big hoardings and flexes placed at various places fell on power lines, interrupting supply.