Discom ropes in German tech to detect underground faults

Visakhapatnam: The AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has adopted German technology to detect faulty networks in underground electricity supply, works in which are expected to be completed by March 2021.
Speaking to TOI, APEPDCL director (projects) K Raja Bapaiah said that the discom has procured a German underground power supply fault detector at a cost of Rs 3 crore, one that is considered to be the best among existing detectors available in other states.
The World Bank suggested and funded the equipment and is also supporting a lion’s share of the total project cost of around Rs 800 crores.
The detector has already been used to check power supply defaults on a trial basis near Circuit Guest House in the city.
“The detector succeeded in identifying a fault of cable joints at the Four Points hotel junction near the Circuit Guest house. We have to test another four to five defects complained about by the contract agencies who took up the project,” said a senior APEPDCL official, who supervised use of the machine.
According to APEPDCL officials, the project aims at covering 80,000 electrical service connections located close to the sea. The project was launched as an alternative to the overhead cabling system that was completely damaged by cyclone Hudhud in October 2014.
The project, which was supposed to be completed by December-end, was delayed owing the lockdown following the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The cabling work at zone-1 areas of the city was completed, while in other areas it needs to be completed by end of this fiscal year. The works were halted for three months during October to December 2019 and for a few weeks due to Covid-19. Now, it is progressing well,” an APEDCL official said.