Boost infra, manpower; plug loopholes in power distribution

Use of solar energy, regular maintenance of power plants & supply lines, limited use of ACs & no electricity wastage need of the hour

Give power cut info in advance

Since the onset of summer season, Chandigarh witnesses unexpected power cuts. On calling the Electricity Department officials tell there is a fault in wires. If the department informs residents through newspaper about scheduled power cuts due to any reason, then they can do their work in advance. Students expect that the department solves all power-related issues as soon as possible because exams are approaching. Otherwise, frequent power cuts hinder studies.

Sunny, Chandigarh

Campaign to save power

There is need to launch mass campaign to save electricity. The government should plan in advance to generate required electricity and meet the demand. Difference in supply and demand is a major cause of power cuts in the tricity.

Dr Amit Sandhal, Mandi Gobindgarh

Conduct power audit in tricity

There must be an audit of supply, consumption, leakage, and theft of power in the tricity. Accountability of officials concerned for any lapses must be fixed. All commercial establishments must have mandatory solar power stations. The VVIP areas must not have dedicated grid line when people face long power cuts. Let VVIPs face heat, which common man experiences every day.

Capt Amar Jeet, Mohali

QUESTION

Amid fears of an impending third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, should the UT Administration wait for some more time before opening colleges in Chandigarh? Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]

Failure to assess power situation

An astute and prudent planning and prompt execution thereof may immediately rescue hapless residents, who bear the brunt of multiple unscheduled power cuts amid an intense heatwave across the tricity. However, the authorities concerned have miserably failed to emerging power situation each year? Needless to say, any hidden move to privatise power generation and its distribution may only be grossly ill-conceived and thus least advisable.

Vinayak G, Panchkula

Shortage of field staff

Despite having sanctioned need based additional load after charging from consumers, the Electricity Department has not set its house in order. Transmission lines do not seem to be suitably upgraded. It appears that responsible officials are in deep slumber and not concerned about consumers' woes. Tripping and power shutdowns take time to rectify due to shortage of field staff like linemen. This must act as a wake-up call for officials concerned.

SC LUTHRA, Chandigarh

Don’t ignore residents’ calls

Amid the ongoing heat wave, disruption in power supply is wreaking havoc on residents' routine. To alleviate the situation, the Electricity Department should not ignore residents’ calls. The department should employ more workforce to communicate with residents and solve their power-related issues. Also the department should ask all consumers to get their electricity meters upgraded according to their load.

Ananya Goel, Ambala Cantt

Ban air-conditioners in govt offices

The government should should curb the misuse of electricity in government offices. Air-conditioners (ACs) should be banned in ministers, councillors and government offices. Solar panels should be installed and be mandatory for bigger houses. Subsidy should be given for installing solar panels.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Cut down on power consumption

No doubt, PSPCL has miserably failed to provide uninterrupted power to consumers in Mohali. At the same time, being responsible citizens, we must cut down on our consumption of electricity upto maximum extent. Use one air-conditioner instead of two and two in place of three. Moreover, we may curtail use of AC by an hour daily in the morning and in the evening.

AK Jindal, Patiala

Purchase power from surplus states

It is really sad that the government has again failed when it comes to saving consumers from power cuts. It should have made adequate provisions for uninterrupted power. The government should endeavour to purchase power from surplus states like Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. In case the government purchases power at higher cost the hike can be passed to consumer.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Ensure correct information of load

It happens that consumers give Electricity Department wrong information about their load consumption. In order to cut down the cost, they show less number of ACs, TVs, refrigerators or heavy appliances. The government should conduct a survey, redistribute power and revise its data. This will ensure reduction in power cuts to some extent in the tricity.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

Prior arrangements to meet peak demand

The Electricity Department should have made prior arrangements to meet demand for power in the summer season. Consumers should be educated to save electricity. Office working hours should be reduced during summer in the tricity. Instead of air-conditioners water coolers should be installed in offices. All thermal plants should be made functional.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Fresh survey to check load

A fresh survey should be conducted to check overall household electricity load in the tricity. When the exact load is not on record, how can the Electricity Department assess demand for total power consumption? Consumers, who declare wrong electricity load, should be penalised to set an example.

Harsimran Kamboj, Chandigarh

Use electricity judiciously

Admit it or not we are over dependent on electricity. Where will this extra power come? Solar power is the solution. People have to make their own arrangements to meet their growing need for more electricity. They can also use electricity judiciously. The green cover of the City Beautiful has to be increased in order to decrease use of air- conditioners, which consume a lot of power and pollute the environment. Inculcate habit of saving electricity among kids. They should be advised to switch off all gadgets in the room when going out.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

Provide solar panels to all

The Administration should provide solar panels to all residents at subsidised rates to augment power generation. Electricity produced by solar power system can supplement the main grid supply without any additional cost. It is, therefore, suggested that solar power system be made compulsory in the tricity. Solar power system has low maintenance cost as compared to hydro/thermal power generation machinery.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

Two-day off for industrial consumers

There should be two-day weekly off for industrial consumers because the demand for electricity is more than supply. Electricity must be judicially used in government offices. Unlimited use of air-conditioners must be banned in government offices. The authorities concerned are responsible for inconvenience to the public. Efforts must be made to arrange extra power during summer season.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

Overhaul power generation system

The power generation system of Punjab must be overhauled. The grid load capability must be improved. The Bhakra Beas Management Board must increase its generation. The focus should also be shifted to setting up renewable energy sources. More solar and biomass power generation plants must be set up. Punjab once had the tag of a power surplus state. It’s high time for the government to get it again.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

Replace old meters

One of the main reasons for unscheduled power cuts is non-declaration of load by residents. The respective Administrations of the tricity should immediately replace all old meters with preferably three or more phase electronic meters for houses above three marlas after duly verifying their electric load. Hefty fines should be imposed on consumers, who draw electricity directly from poles through 'kundi' connections.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

Save electricity is the mantra

Solar energy must be harnessed at homes and commercial establishments. Set your refrigerator to 2°C and freezer to -16°C. Only LED bulbs should be allowed in the city. Clean air filters of air-conditioners regularly. Check air leaks in rooms where air conditioners are installed. Switch off lights when not in use. Unplug mobile battery charger when phone is charged. New design of buildings has scope for natural light and air in rooms. Use window shades.

Antara Rakheja, Chandigarh

Unplanned, shoddy infrastructure

Frequent power cuts in this heat spell misery for residents and damage electrical gadgets. The infrastructure is unplanned, shoddily made and badly maintained. So, even a minor storm plays havoc with the power supply. Identifying threats like unstable trees, proper maintenance and use of better-quality equipment may prevent breakdowns. Unnecessary lighting in buildings and tourist places should be restricted.

Bubby Soin, Chandigarh

Worst situation could have been avoided

It has been nightmarish for residents of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula to face unscheduled and long power cuts forcing them to come out on streets and protest at various power substations. This worst power situation could have been avoided had the government and the PSPCL authorities planned for excessive demand. They should have undertaken preventive maintenance of all power plants in advance to avoid outage during the peak demand period.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

No emergency plan to blame for situation

Ill preparedness, lack of maintenance of power plants and no emergency plan has angered farmers, residents and the business community in the tricity. Decisions to stop power supply to industrial plants and power cuts in residential areas has proven that nothing was planned for the expected peak load during the year. Responsibilities and accountability must be fixed to plug loopholes in the power generation system.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Minhas (retd), Mohali

Students are the worst affected

The main reason behind power cuts is old infrastructure. The Electricity Department has no option, but to use old transformers, which cannot bear increased load. Power theft is another cause of cuts and shortage. The worst affected are students, who attend online classes and officials working from home. The Electricity Department should ensure that existing transformers do not break down owing to increased load. Old and less capacity transformers should be replaced with new.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Fix responsibilities of officials

Tricity is facing power cuts because of the old infrastructure and less maintenance of generation plants. The Administration should upgrade power generation and supply infrastructure from time to time. The government should promote and give more subsidies for installing solar panels. Responsibility of officials concerned to provide uninterrupted power to tricity residents should be fixed.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

Prepare schedule for load shedding

The frequent power cuts across tricity have made the life of people miserable. Consumers are not aware about power cuts in advance. The Electricity Department should impose rotational power cuts. A schedule must be prepared and implemented for load shedding. This schedule must be published in newspapers and uploaded on the Electricity Department website. Those stealing power should be penalised.

Dr Shruti Chawla, Chandigarh

Detect pilferage, theft of power

Uninterrupted power supply is a sine qua non for ease of living/doing business in rural, urban, industrial and agricultural sectors and smooth running of household. Power disruptions expose man-made lapses in planning and execution. The real culprit is not the paucity of power, but drains on it, which reduce availability. Power supplied and actually billed at various distribution points should be metered and matched to pin-point pilferage and thefts.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Rope in private players

Like every year, this year too, problems of power cuts haunt tricity residents. Electricity production should be in surplus so that no one suffers in the intense heatwave. If the government cannot provide electricity in extreme hot weather then it should rope in private companies for generation and supply of power. All street lights should be switched off in the day time.

Adish Sood, Amloh

Save electricity at individual level

The crises can be reduced by saving electricity at the individual level. Planning to manage demand for power during summers, when it is at peak, should be undertaken well in advance. Power production should be increased to meet the requirement. Power line losses can be reduced with meticulous maintenance. Illegal power connections should be identified and disconnected.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

Ruling dispensation must take a call

The burgeoning demand for uninterrupted power supply has exposed lapses and loopholes not only in infrastructure, but also preparedness to deal with an alarming situation when the power-hit people have been forced to raise the pitch against government's apathy. The ruling dispensation should come out of its cosy confines and find a lasting solution to the perennial problem of plenty. It needs to step up vigil on pilferage of electricity.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

Solar panels for independent houses

Though it's the responsibility of the Administration to provide 24x7 electricity, onus lies on residents also to save power by using less appliances, including air-conditioners and switching off fans etc when not required. Residents should opt for alternate power generation sources like solar system. The Administration on its part must ensure that all independent houses have installed solar panel. Subsidy must be provided for the installation of solar panels.

Col KJ Singh (retd), Chandigarh

Increase power generation

Life is more dependent on electricity. Need of the hour is to resolve inconsistencies between power supply and its demand. Increasing generation capacity can solve inconsistencies to meet ever rising demand of electricity. There should be limited use of appliances during high power demand period.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

Monitor supply at user level

In view of the paddy season and scorching heat, the UT Administration should have made alternate arrangements to provide uninterrupted electricity to consumers. In order to achieve 24x7 power for all, the focus should be on real-time monitoring of supply at the end-user level. Improving maintenance services, estimation of adequate demand and power procurement will also go a long way in reducing load shedding.

Akash Kumar, Chandigarh

Only corporate houses will benefit

It is not the fault of residents, but the Administration as there is an acute shortage of manpower and absence of infrastructure, which is hampering repair work. This is an example of indecision. If Electricity Department is privatised residents will suffer tremendously as seen in other states. Corporate houses will benefit most from privatisation of the department. There will be no power. Whatever available will be at skyrocketing rates.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

Failure of UT Administration

Harsh summer coupled with frequent power cuts has made residents lives miserable in the tricity. People are suffering on account of the gross failure of the UT Administration to anticipate demand for power in the peak summer season. There is an immediate need for privatisation of the electricity generation and supply in the tricity. Pilferage and theft is another major cause of loss of electricity accentuated by large scale corruption in the power sector. It's high time to carry out major power sector reforms so that residents do not suffer more.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

Rectify faults immediately

Frequent power cuts in the tricity point towards the need to change functioning of the Electricity Department. First of all, faults should be immediately rectified as soon as possible. Electricity wires should be maintained and changed regularly. Privatisation of the Electricity Department should be completed as soon as possible. This will improve service quality and efficiency of the department.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh