Nashik villages reap benefit of power conservation plan

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company's (MSEDCL) Akshay Prakash Yojana, a programme to conserve electricity in rural areas, seems to be paying off. In several areas, peak load has come down significantly, said MSDECL officials.

The villages adopting the scheme were asked to switch off three-phase power supply during peak hours and not to use illegal connections. This has resulted in power supply for 23 hours to around 1,300 villages.

Among these, around 586 villages are from the Nashik district. The district suffers a deficit of 3,200 mw, which is around 25 per cent of the total power deficit. At present, the demand for power in the state is at 13,500 mw, and suffers a deficit of 9,500 mw.

According to MSEDCL officials, the daily load in Nashik district has come down by 80 mw during day time and 180 mw during peak hours.

Illegal power consumption in the district is around 30-35 per cent, while in Kolhapur district it is at 20-50 per cent.

As part of the programme, consumers have been advised not to use heavy electrical appliances during peak hours. Up to 25 per cent of power can be saved through self-control such as not using agricultural pumps and heaters during peak hours, said officials. Power thus saved could be used to maintain continuous supply.

Flour mills, workshops and other units have been advised not to operate between 6 and 10 pm. In urban areas, co-operative housing societies are asked not to operate water pumps during the evening peak hours.

The scheme has already been implemented in Pune (urban), Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Nashik districts. It is under consideration in Vasai and Palghar of Thane district. It has also been implemented in the Goregaon area near Pen in Raigad district.