Odisha faces power outages as demand surges amid scorching heat

Power outages in Odisha are caused by overloading and rising electricity demand due to scorching heat, with transformers burning out and electrical installations facing excessive load.

With reports of power outages pouring in from several districts of Odisha amid the ongoing heatwave conditions, the state government on Saturday said the situation was caused by overloading and rising electricity demand.

Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, who is in charge of the energy department, said transformers were burning out due to scorching heat and electrical installations were facing excessive load.

''It is seen that transformers are burning out due to scorching heat, and electrical installations have been encountering overloading. We are trying our best to restore power as and when there is an outage,'' he said.

The deputy chief minister, however, maintained that there was no power cut and that outages were due to technical issues.

The IMD on Saturday forecast continuation of heatwave conditions across the state till May 28, with five places in the western region recording temperatures of 45 degree Celsius or above.

The industrial town of Jharsuguda recorded a maximum temperature of 45.2 degree Celsius, followed by Sambalpur, Hirakud, Titlagarh and Boudh, all logging 45 degree Celsius.

In view of the situation, the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) has cancelled leave of all employees and directed them not to leave headquarters without prior approval.

The OPTCL said strict measures had been put in place due to the prevailing situation arising out of excessive power demand and the need to maintain uninterrupted operational readiness.

Meanwhile, the state government on Friday invoked the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988, prohibiting strikes in electricity generation, transmission and distribution across GRIDCO, OPTCL, OHPC, OPGC and all DISCOMs for six months.

The move was aimed at ensuring uninterrupted functioning of essential power infrastructure during the severe heatwave conditions in the state.

Tata Power-led Odisha DISCOMs said the state's peak power demand touched a record 6,739 MW, nearly 300 MW higher than last year.

Electricity demand in Bhubaneswar alone has risen by 17 per cent over the past week, it said.

The power distribution company said over 26,000 field staff have been deployed across the state to restore power supply.

''We have kept 5,000 distribution transformers and over 60,000 poles positioned for rapid restoration. A 24x7 network monitoring system and a 200-seat customer care centre have been activated for uninterrupted consumer support,'' it said.