Urja Khabar
KATHMANDU; The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has intensified efforts to upgrade and strengthen electricity distribution infrastructure at various locations across the country, particularly along the East–West Highway, amid growing public complaints over frequent power outages.
As part of the initiative, the NEA has recently completed major capacity enhancement works at the Lahan and Chandranigahpur substations and started constructing a new Amaltari feeder from the Kawasoti Substation.
Under the Dhalkebar Division, the NEA has upgraded power transformers and installed new transformers to strengthen electricity supply in the region.
At the Lahan Substation, the capacity of the 30 MVA, 132/33 kV transformer has been upgraded to 63 MVA. Similarly, two 16.6 MVA, 33/11 kV transformers at the substation have each been upgraded to 24 MVA. The transformer upgrades were completed within the past two months.
Likewise, the NEA installed a new 16.6 MVA, 33/11 kV transformer at the Chandranigahpur Substation on Friday to expand and strengthen electricity supply in the area.
The NEA expects the capacity enhancement and infrastructure upgrades at the Lahan and Chandranigahpur substations to make electricity supply more adequate, reliable and stable, while also improving the overall quality of distribution services.
New feeder to strengthen supply in Kawasoti
The NEA has also started constructing a new Amaltari feeder from the 132/33/11 kV Kawasoti Substation under the Kawasoti Distribution Center.
The new feeder is being developed by splitting the existing Pragatinagar feeder, with the aim of improving the reliability and efficiency of electricity distribution in the area.
According to the Kawasoti Distribution Center, the new feeder is expected to reduce tripping and technical losses once it comes into operation.
The feeder will improve electricity supply to the wards 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 of Kawasoti Municipality, as well as major tourist destinations located south of the East–West Highway.
The NEA believes that separating the feeder will help distribute the load more efficiently and reduce disruptions caused by faults and overloading in the existing distribution network.
26-point action plan to address distribution problems
The latest infrastructure upgrades are part of the NEA's broader effort to address persistent problems in the electricity distribution system.
Last month, the NEA issued a 26-point directive aimed at promptly resolving problems affecting electricity distribution and consumer services across the country.
According to Rajan Dhakal, Chief of the NEA's Distribution and Customer Service Directorate and Deputy Executive Director, the initiatives are focused on addressing disruptions in the distribution system, improving reliability, replacing unsafe structures, reducing technical and non-technical losses, recovering outstanding electricity bills and improving services to consumers.
The NEA's recent investments in transformer capacity, substations and feeder networks are expected to strengthen the distribution system and provide consumers with more reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply, particularly in areas experiencing rapid growth in electricity demand.
