Shimla faces power outage, powerdept blames it on increasing load

With the minimum falling to sub-zero level in the state capital, the consumption of power has increased manifold, resulting in power outage during morning hours.

As a part of load-shedding, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) has decided to impose power cut between 7.30am to 10am.

Shimla sub-division number two executive engineer Rumail Singh clarified that the demand of electricity normally increased during winters not only in Shimla, but other parts too. “We have planned to impose power cuts during morning hours when the load is beyond the carrying capacity,” he added.

Shimla sub-division number two had capacity to meet the load up to 79.1 mega volt ampere against the required 70 mega volt ampere.

“The 132-kilo volt Jutogh power sub-station has capacity of 63 mega volt ampere, which feeds Shimla sub-division number two, he said.

“We can supply uninterrupted electricity, but Jutogh doesn't have capacity to meet the increasing load,” said Singh, adding only solution before us was to impose short power cuts.

Stating that it is not mandatory to impose power cuts, he said when the load started increasing we had to stop the supply.

“If load is as per our capacity there will be un-interrupted power supply in the city,” said Singh, adding we were expecting problems around December 29-31.

Meanwhile, a HPSEB official at the Jutogh sub-station said power cuts was only solution to save the sub-station from damage during winters when load increases manifold.

HPSEB director (operation) JP Kalta also denied that there was any order to impose power cuts, but conceded increase in power consumption during winters. “There are over 70,000 electricity connections across Shimla,” he said.

However, facing with the problem of power outage, the residents have been demanding upgradation of the Jutogh sub-station.

Sources with the HPSEBL said there was a proposal to set up a 31.5 mega volt ampere sub-station at Malyana, in the outskirt of Shimla, but could materialise for some unknown reason.