Amidst continuous scorching heat with long dry spell across the state, Tripura recorded highest ever power consumption in peak hours in a single day, which has forced the Power department to procure high rate power from other states of the country to maintain the normal supply without load shedding.

Addressing a press conference here at Civil Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon, Power Minister Ratna Lal Nath accompanied by Managing Director of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) Debasis Sarkar, Nath said that Tripura breaking all previous records of highest power consumption in a single day has recorded consumption of 357.4 MW in peak hours on Tuesday.

Earlier, during Durga Puja days, the power consumption was recorded at 332.7 MW, which was highest consumption during the last few financial years, but this year’s highest ever power consumption has forced the department to procure power from other states with the highest rate per unit, said Nath.

He said that till today Tripura has recorded only 91.2 millimeters of rainfall at rain gauge meters and the state is supposed to get 562.1 mm rains in the last three months. In absence of normal rain and as the state reels under intense heat wave, the daily requirement of power has increased at its highest limit due to over uses of air condition (AC) machines, air-coolers and high speed fans across the state.

Nath appeals to all 9.17 lakh consumers of TSECL to maintain their limit uses of power and in case of uses of large numbers of electric appliances, they should duly inform their nearest TSECL centre to modify the load dispatch system from their local electric transformers.

“Its very regrets to say, consumer are now maintaining the standard electric systems and with single phase line, they are using multiple ACs, which is the main cause of faulty transmission of power lines,” said Nath and added that at present all power systems is running in all capacities and if the situation remain same, then any time the total power distribution system can be failed.

He alerted the consumers and requested them to inform the power consumption limit to the local TSECL centre for proper dispatching power by increasing the capacity of the transformer as per their requirement.

Nath said that few consumers without any proper permission or intimation are using the highest number of electric appliances, which has increased pressure in transformers , which can lead to anytime fault in the transmission of power in their respective locality.

He said that TSECL employees are working round the clock to ensure load-shedding power supply in every nook and corner of the state and call centre employees are also working round the clock to ensure smooth power supply. Nath also highlighted the TSECL call centre services through toll-free number 1912 and WhatsApp number 9863596081 along with other services through different electronic media.