Discoms announce power cuts yet again, scheduled for 14,15 April

Citizens of Delhi will yet again face long power cuts on 14 and 15 April, due scheduled maintenance work by power distribution companies on their transformers, lines and other electrical installations. 

Power discoms BSES (Rajdhani and Yamuna) Power Limited and Tata Power Limited have been organising power cuts for the last three weeks. On 14 April, areas affected by the power cuts from two – seven hours are Khanpur, Punjabi Bagh, Sarita Vihar, Nehru Place, Alaknanda, Dwarka, Jaffarapur, Mundka, Vikarpuri, Tagore Garden, Nangloi, Nazafgarh, Palam, RK Puram, Saket, Janak Puri and Vasant Kunj. Such power cuts have been the flavor of the season since January, 2014.

Delhites will have to face even longer power cuts, scheduled for 15 April. Power discoms on Friday informed that they have scheduled maintenance work for their transformers, lines and other electrical installations. The areas covered under Reliance-led BSES (Rajdhani) will be more affected by this shortage in supply, in comparison to areas that receive electricity from Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL). 

In 37 areas that receive electricity from the BSES (Rajdhani), power will be unavailable for approximately seven hours. Areas affected include Chandni Chowk, Darya Gang, Karkardooma, Krishna Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Mayur Vihar phase I & II, Nand Nagri,Yamuna Vihar and Patel Nagar.

Meanwhile, in 27 areas that receive electricity from TPDDL, power cuts are expected to run up to a maximum of seven hours. According to Delhi Transco Limited, BRPL will go on planned maintenance between 10 am to 5 pm on 15 April too. Localities facing power cuts as a result will include Hauz Khas (part of C-1, Part of C-7 and Part of Safdar Jung enclave), Khanpur ( Madangir Village), Punjabi Bagh, Sarita Vihar (Zakir Nagar) , Nehru Place, Alakananda, Dwarka, Janakpuri, Najaf Garh, Nangloi, Palam, Punjabi Bagh, Saket and Sarita Vihar.

On Sunday Laxmi Nagar, Shankar Road, Nand Nagri and Karkardoom were affected by the six-seven hour power cut due to maintenance work. Meanwhile, as the elections are over in the city, the power regulator is expected to speed up the process of tariff determination for the current financial year.  Sources said Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) might issue a public notice inviting feedback and comments on tariff petitions submitted by the discoms, in the coming week. Thereafter, it will bring out a public notice by mid-May and seek the consumers’ response.

Once it has sought feedback on the petitions, it will take approximately three months for the new tariff to be announced, officials said. After the public shares its observations, a hearing will be held with all stakeholders and activists to let them have their say. Tariff announcement is unlikely before June-July. ‘The general election will be over by the time the commission is ready to announce the revised tariff,’ said a source.