Power consumption patterns appear to be changing in Telangana, with factors like the Gruha Jyothi scheme adding to the mix.
(Representational image/Creative Commons)
A collaborative short-form video on Instagram is shedding light on a very literal form of darkness in Telangana.
The Reel shows the creator suffering to record the clips that make up the entire video, with his efforts hobbled by frequent and often lengthy power cuts in Telangana — especially in the bigger cities.
And these power supply interruptions do not seem to be sparing anyone. There are videos of BRS working president KT Rama Rao being cut off mid-speech during a public address because of one such power cut.
People are now taking to X (formerly Twitter) to air their woes and complain about the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL), claiming apathy and a lack of concern from the power supplier.
@tgspdcl power gone at banjara hills, road no. 12, banjara view / banjara kiran and near by area. From 3:30 pm
No updates from the department. Please let us know.— rehan azad (@notthatazad) June 17, 2024
Telangana used to pride itself as a power-surplus state. So, what is causing the power cuts now, especially in light of facts showing that breakdowns have decreased? Has there been any rise in power consumption?
To answer these questions, South First requested and collected the data on average daily consumption (in Million Units or MUs) from the TGSPDCL.
The data for five months — from January to May of 2023 and the same period in 2024 — show that consumption has indeed increased, resulting in more load on the supply.
The TGSPDCL, meanwhile, appears to have its own set of explanations for the power cuts and the complaints.
The TGSPDCL data showed a variable change in daily power consumption in the first five months from 2023 to 2024.
In January 2023, the average daily consumption was 227.42 MUs compared to 243.12 MUs in January 2024, indicating a 6.9-percent increase.
In February 2023, the average daily consumption was 263.48 MUs compared to 273.92 MUs in February 2024, which showed a 4-percent rise.
In March 2023, the average daily consumption was 274.42 MUs compared to 289.71 MUs in March 2024, which meant a 5.57-percent increase.
In April 2023, the average daily consumption was 233.06 MUs compared to 242.91 MUs in April 2024, which indicated a 4.22-percent increase.
In May 2023, the average daily consumption was 181.1 MUs compared to 200.57 in May 2024, which was a 10.75-percent increase.
This showed that the power consumption was consistently higher for every day of the first five months of 2024 as compared to 2023.
One of the two factors for the power consumption increase was Zero Bills for the usage of electricity up to 200 units under the Gruha Jyothi scheme.
Beneficiaries of the scheme were seen using more than 150 units compared to 100 units earlier as they were eligible under the Gruha Jyothi scheme.
Also, households experienced more usage of electricity due to heatwaves in general.
Two beneficiaries of the Gruha Jyoti scheme — selected through the Praja Palana forms — explained to South First that they had not faced any problem in availing of free electric supply under the initiative.
Secunderabad resident T Karunakar explained, “We are a family of four. My father is a daily-wage labourer and I am preparing for government exams. Therefore, I applied for the scheme to reduce the burden of the electricity bill.”
He added: “We have not paid any money for electricity for the last two months, even though our electricity consumption went up to 180 units from 150 units due to summer.”
Now, a breakdown in supply could also be another reason for power cuts. Except, data shows there have been fewer such breakdowns in the first five months of the current year compared to the same period last year.
According to TGSPDCL officials, there were fewer breakdowns in power supply at the 33-kV feeder level.
Breakdowns decreased to 43.18 percent 33-kV feeder level this year compared to 51.28 percent in the same period last year.
The number of times the 33-kV feeder broke down was 1,943 from January to May in 2023 compared to 1,104 in the same period this year.
The feeder also saw 20,820 tripping in the first five months of last year compared to 14,657 over the same period this year. That was down to 29.6 percent compared to 32.56 percent in 2023.
The 11-kV line saw 7,587 breakdowns during January-May 2023, compared to 6,284 in January-May 2024.
The ratio was down to 17.17 percent this year compared to 23.17 percent in 2023.
On the continuous tagging of TGSPDCL on X, as people complain of power cuts, TGSPDCL Chairman and Managing Director Musharraf Ali Faruqui claimed, “Most of the complaints on X are false.”
He, however, also said: “We have limited staff on the ground. When there is heavy rainfall, the workers have to travel in the rain and traffic and resolve the issues.”
He added: “In such situations, the spike of false complaints is a problem for the genuine ones, which will be delayed. The dial-in grievances are all true.”
Explaining another reason for power cuts he recalled an incident in Shamshabad on 7 May when a big hoarding fell and the power to six substations was disconnected for 30 minutes.
In such cases, the concerned departments should work out rules to avoid erecting such hoardings, he said.
“We are all equipped for the rains. Over 10,000 workers are attached to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC),” he noted.
Faruqui also said the number of Gruha Jyothi beneficiaries was also expected to rise because the Model Code of Conduct — in place due to the Lok Sabha elections — was to be lifted.
The scheme was yet to be implemented in districts like Rangareddy, Vikarabad, Mahabubnagar, Gadwal, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, and Narayanpet, he noted.
(Edited by Arkadev Ghoshal)
Jun 27, 2024
Jun 27, 2024
Jun 27, 2024
Jun 27, 2024
Jun 27, 2024
Jun 27, 2024
