Latest news with #PMSG-MBY
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh chief secy directs CPDL to curb power outages in city
Chief secretary Rajeev Verma on Thursday directed Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL) to minimise power outages and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to avoid public inconvenience. Verma expressed concern over the recent seven-hour-long blackout that affected multiple sectors after a busbar malfunctioned due to moisture ingress at the Sector-56 Sub Station. Several key initiatives undertaken by CPDL to strengthen the city's power infrastructure were presented. (HT photo for representation) Verma was chairing a review meeting to assess CPDL's progress and key developments since it took over electricity distribution responsibilities in Chandigarh on February 1, 2025. CPDL officials informed that anti-hygroscopic paint had been applied as a monsoon precaution, but it failed to prevent the fault. To mitigate future risks, dehumidifiers will now be deployed at substations. Several key initiatives undertaken by CPDL to strengthen the city's power infrastructure were presented. These included the installation of three 20 MVA power transformers and the replacement of 28 distribution transformers to ensure a stable power supply. Officials highlighted that comprehensive maintenance across grid substations unlocked an additional 59 MVA capacity, enabling CPDL to handle the city's record peak demand of 465 MW. The chief secretary was apprised of the steps taken to enhance consumer grievance redressal. The 24×7 call centre's capacity has been significantly boosted—manpower increased from 17 to 52 and call lines expanded from 10 to 50. Additionally, 49 complaint centre executives and 4 supervisors have been deployed for faster issue resolution. To improve field response, 100 outsourced fault response team (FRT) members have been engaged, along with 80 technical staff and 20 system support assistants. As a result, 95% of the outages reported in July were restored within two hours. It was also informed that 72 employees transferred from the UT administration have been promoted on current duty charge basis. Progress under the PM Surya Ghar–Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG-MBY) was also reviewed, along with key challenges and areas where CPDL requires administrative support. The meeting was attended by secretary engineering Prerna Puri, chief engineer CB Ojha, senior CPDL officials, and representatives from the Chandigarh administration.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
‘Minimise power outages in Chandigarh': Chief Secretary directs power distribution company
Chandigarh: Chandigarh Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma on Thursday held a review meeting to assess the progress and key developments of Chandigarh Power Distribution Ltd (CPDL) since it assumed charge of the city's electricity distribution on February 1. The Chief Secretary directed the company to minimise power outages and ensure an uninterrupted supply to avoid public inconvenience. He expressed concern over the recent seven-hour-long power cut affecting multiple sectors after the busbar flashed due to moisture at the Sector 56 sub-station. Company officials explained that anti-hygroscopic paint had been applied as a precaution for the monsoon, but it proved inadequate. They added that dehumidifiers will now be used to prevent such breakdowns in the future. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary was apprised of several major initiatives undertaken by the CPDL to strengthen the power infrastructure. It was informed that three 20 MVA Power Transformers have been installed, and 28 distribution transformers have been replaced to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply. Further, the comprehensive maintenance carried out across all grid substations resulted in unlocking an additional 59 MVA capacity, enabling the CPDL to efficiently meet the city's highest-ever peak demand of 465 MW. The capacity of the round-the-clock call centre has been significantly enhanced by increasing the manpower from 17 to 52 and the number of call lines from 10 to 50. Additionally, 49 complaint centre executives and four supervisors have been deployed for faster resolution of consumer complaints. Progress under the PM Surya Ghar–Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG-MBY) was also reviewed, along with key challenges faced by CPDL and the areas where support from the UT Administration is required. The meeting was attended by Secretary of Engineering Prerna Puri, Chief Engineer C.B. Ojha, besides senior CPDL officials and representatives from the administration.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh chief secretary orders quick fix to power outages
Chief secretary Rajeev Verma conducted a review meeting of Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL) on Tuesday following rising public complaints about frequent unscheduled power cuts across the city. The meeting, attended by engineering secretary Prerna Puri, chief engineer CB Ojha and senior CPDL officials, focused on improving the power situation since CPDL took over distribution responsibilities on February 1 this year. During the meeting, Verma expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating power supply quality, particularly highlighting issues of unscheduled outages and delayed response times that have inconvenienced residents. CPDL officials presented a detailed status report outlining both ongoing corrective measures and future plans to stabilise the power supply. Officials informed that CPDL has initiated grid infrastructure strengthening through scheduled maintenance at all substations, especially crucial ahead of peak summer demand. To address immediate fault resolution, CPDL has outsourced specialised Fault Response Teams (FRTs) to ensure quicker complaint redressal. On the consumer service front, CPDL has launched a 24x7 call centre, a dedicated WhatsApp helpline, and now provides both electricity meters and power cables free of cost — items that consumers previously had to purchase themselves. The new system ensures meter installations within 72 hours of application. The presentation also revealed significant challenges, including aging infrastructure with frequent equipment failures identified during post-privatisation surveys and acute staff shortages currently being managed through outsourced manpower. Looking ahead, CPDL is developing a robust cybersecurity framework and an 'islanding network' to maintain uninterrupted power supply to critical services like hospitals during grid failures. The CPDL is also actively implementing the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana to promote solar energy adoption. The chief secretary was also apprised of the ongoing rollout of the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG-MBY), along with future projects aimed at expanding and modernising Chandigarh's power delivery network. The chief secretary has directed officials to ensure that power disruption is minimalised and response time be improved.
