The Noida power department has commenced the installation of 250 new transformers across the district at an investment of Rs 25 crore, in anticipation of peak summer electricity demand. These transformers, with capacities of 250 kVA and 400 kVA, will operate at a maximum load of 50% to prevent burnouts caused by overloading — a recurring issue during summer months when electricity consumption surges.
Collaborative Effort by Central and State Governments
Power department officials stated that the project is being executed collaboratively by both the central and state governments. Vivek Kumar Patel, Superintending Engineer (Technical) of the Noida power department, PVVNL, said, “By keeping the load on these transformers to 50%, we are significantly minimising the risk of failures and ensuring a reliable power supply for our consumers.”
Current Transformer Infrastructure
The district currently has over 24,000 transformers, ranging in capacity from 10 kVA to 650 kVA, serving various needs from residential areas to agricultural tube-well connections. Most of these are 25 kVA transformer units located primarily in rural parts of the district such as Dadri, Jewar, and Dankaur.
Targeted Deployment in Overloaded Areas
Additional transformers will be deployed in locations currently experiencing overloading issues, including Salarpur, Sadarpur, and sectors 62, 63, 12, 11, and 77, among others. Sanjay Kumar Jain, Chief Engineer of the Noida power department, PVVNL, said, “As a result, even as summer temperatures rise, the likelihood of transformer burnouts or explosions will be drastically minimised, ensuring a continuous and uninterrupted power supply for consumers.”
Addressing Summer-Related Failures
Transformers often fail due to rising temperatures and consequent overloading. The operating temperature of a transformer typically ranges from 40 to 50 degrees Celsius. However, during summer, the ambient temperature can soar to between 45 and 50 degrees, increasing the risk of transformers burning out or exploding. The addition of these 250 new transformers is expected to drastically reduce such occurrences, officials said.
“This upgrade is part of our ongoing efforts to modernise the power supply infrastructure and accommodate the growing energy demands of our district. The successful commissioning of these transformers will virtually eliminate the risk of burnouts,” Patel added.
