Er.energyNP@Gmail.com

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has begun necessary preparations to manage the anticipated rise in electricity demand in the Kathmandu Valley and other areas during the upcoming dry season (winter). The decision to intensify related studies and work came at a meeting held at the Authority on Tuesday regarding winter power demand and supply management.

The preparations come after power generation was halted at hydropower stations operating along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli river corridor in Rasuwa district, following the recent devastating flood that damaged those facilities, prompting the need for advance planning to manage electricity demand and supply this winter.

Committee formed

The meeting, chaired by NEA Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha, was attended by deputy executive directors of the Project Management Directorate and the Transmission Directorate, along with heads of various departments and project chiefs.

To advance the necessary studies and work for winter demand management, the meeting formed a five-member committee coordinated by the Director of the Bagmati Provincial Office. The committee has been instructed to submit daily progress reports to the Executive Director and to immediately report any problems encountered during implementation.

No loadshedding expected

Managing Director Shrestha clarified at the meeting that although the halt in production from power stations in the Trishuli river basin has created some pressure on demand and supply management, there will be no loadshedding this winter and no such situation is expected to arise. He said preparations for managing power supply were already being advanced. The meeting also set deadlines for completing ongoing transmission and distribution projects under construction in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas.

Restoring supply to flood-hit areas

The meeting further decided to discuss various options and proceed with the necessary process to make power supply more reliable in flood-affected Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. A team has also been mobilised to conduct an on-site study on the possibility of bringing the flood-damaged Devighat substation back into operation.