KATHMANDU, Jan 7: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has claimed that the problem of electricity tripping has reduced this year compared to last year, with an improvement in the electricity distribution system.

At a time when the NEA is facing criticism from various fronts for “resuming load-shedding” on the pretext of disrupted power supply, the state-owned utility authority has come up with the clarification. Recently, the increasing fluctuation in power supply ignited a nightmare of the nearly-forgotten load-shedding among the people, while also bringing disruptions to business activities.

According to the NEA, during mid-November and mid-December, the Kathmandu Valley underwent sudden power cuts for 347 times. The problems that took place in 14 substations had led to power supply disruptions for 22 hours in the Valley. In the same period last year, there were power cuts for 65 hours in 577 trippings.

Hitendra Dev Shakya, officiating managing director of NEA, said the power supply was disrupted due to road maintenance, laying of drinking water pipes and works for relocating electricity poles and transformers, among others.

Shakya however attributed the reduction in tripping problems to the capacity enhancement of the transmission lines and substations done in the past. He claimed that the NEA has sufficient electricity in its distribution system now. “Load-shedding has now become history,” said Shakya.