DISCOMs to spend over Rs. 15,000 crore on power supply, distribution system modernization

The DISCOMs have reportedly decided to undertake modernization and expansion works worth over Rs. 15,000 crore to meet the increasing demand of electricity in the State

Hyderabad: With the State witnessing a significant surge in electricity demand over the past few months, the State-run power distribution companies (DISCOMs) have started preparing plans for modernization and expansion of power supply and distribution systems in the State.

The DISCOMs have reportedly decided to undertake modernization and expansion works worth over Rs. 15,000 crore to meet the increasing demand of electricity in the State. There are also plans to increase the capacity of various lines to transmit high voltage power to different parts of the State without much difficulty.

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The DISCOMs are expecting the power demand to touch 16,877 MW in March and April and to make adequate arrangements to meet the demand it had decided to undertake works and other important initiatives to improve the distribution system so that it could ensure continuous supply, sources said.

Sources say TRANSCO has given permission to build 70 substations with capacity of 400 KV, 220 KV and 182 KV at a cost of Rs. 10,640 crore to meet the additional demand that will increase by 2030 without disturbing the continuous power supply. Apart from this, the capacity of 193 transformers would be increased in another 132 substations at a cost of Rs. 2,743 crore, the sources added.

TRANSCO has reportedly decided to take up the construction of new alternative transmission power lines at 55 places and to set up about 321 new substations across the State to ensure quality supply to consumers. Apart from this efforts were being made to modernise the electricity distribution and supply systems of the State to meet the future power demand, sources said.

Already the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGNPDCL) had undertaken works of low tension (LT) power lines at 836 places to improve them according to the expected power demand during the upcoming summer, officials said, adding that overload had recently been found in 11 lines of 33 KV capacity and 35 lines of 11 KV capacity under its jurisdiction and measures were being taken to improve their capacity.

Similarly, overload was observed in 161 areas of 33 KV lines and 787 areas in 11 KV lines under Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGSPDCL) jurisdiction. The officials were taking steps to fix all these lines by increasing the capacity in the next few months, sources informed.