Delhi government warns power distribution companies against load shedding in summers

NEW DELHI: Anticipating an increase in demand during summers in the capital, power minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday wrote to the power distribution companies asking them to ensure "uninterrupted electricity supply across the city with immediate effect". Emphasising on the practice of 'load shedding' in poorer localities of the capital, Jain has warned the discoms "to make sure that power shortage is not used as an excuse to resort to load shedding".

An official statement released by the Delhi government on Thursday said the letter to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of discoms was prompted after reports of load shedding being carried out especially in "slums and JJ Clusters". "A serious view will be taken by the department in case the discoms resort to unreasonable excuses for load shedding," the statement said. It also warned of action against Discoms, if they failed to fall in line.

Discoms estimate Delhi's summer demand reach around 6500 MW this summer. At other times, it is almost half of that quantity. So, on select occassions, power outages become impossible to avoid. In the event of such situations, the discoms have also been directed to "ensure that such load shedding at any level of shortage does not exceed one hour at a stretch and should be strictly on rotational basis in different areas and not only in slums and JJ clusters."

When their response to the Delhi Government's letter was sought, an official statement put out by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited said they were "fully geared to meet the summer load" and no power cuts were anticipated. Detailing the steps taken by the companies, the statement said,"Arrangements have been firmed up by BRPL and BYPL to source adequate power to meet the peak power demand of over 34 lakhs consumers during the ensuing summer months.