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The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has directed distribution centres across the country to remain on high alert during the Dashain festival to ensure a reliable, uninterrupted and quality electricity supply to consumers.

Although industrial and commercial activities generally decline during Dashain, electricity consumption patterns change in households, religious sites, markets and public spaces. The NEA has therefore prioritised the safe and reliable operation of the power system throughout the festive period.

NEA Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha and Rajan Dhakal, chief of the Distribution and Customer Service Directorate, held a virtual meeting on Friday with heads of provincial and divisional offices and distribution centres. They instructed officials to complete all necessary preparations to prevent disruptions to electricity supply during the festival.

Executive Director Shrestha directed technical teams to remain on standby to carry out immediate repairs and restore electricity as quickly as possible in the event of an outage.

Officials have also been instructed to complete pending inspections and maintenance of transmission lines and distribution systems without delay. The authority aims to minimise the risk of technical faults and other potential disruptions during the holiday period.

The NEA has placed particular emphasis on strengthening its complaint-handling mechanism. Officials have been directed to ensure that calls received through the authority’s ‘No Light’ service are answered promptly and that consumer complaints are addressed effectively.

If a power supply problem occurs, the concerned offices must mobilise technical teams immediately and restore service as soon as possible, according to the authority.

The NEA said it is continuously monitoring electricity demand and supply conditions and taking precautionary measures to prevent problems in the power system. Coordination among relevant offices and the deployment of technical teams have also been arranged to maintain a regular electricity supply throughout Dashain.

Alongside its operational preparations, the authority has urged consumers to use electricity safely during the festival.

Consumers have been advised to inspect household electrical appliances and wiring, avoid using substandard electrical materials, and refrain from attempting to repair electrical leakage or faulty wires themselves. Such problems should be handled only by qualified technicians to reduce the risk of electric shocks, short circuits and fires.

The NEA has also urged consumers experiencing electricity supply problems to contact their nearest distribution centre or the relevant ‘No Light’ service for assistance.

The authority’s preparations are aimed at ensuring that households, businesses and religious sites can observe Dashain without unnecessary disruption to electricity services.