Uttarakhand cautious about power supply amid La Niña concerns this winter

In anticipation of the La Niña effect this winter, the Uttarakhand government has adopted an extra-cautious approach to supplying, maintaining, and monitoring power in the state, especially in the hill areas. The state power department has issued circulars to its electricity distribution divisions and senior officials to ensure an uninterrupted power supply during winter, as La Niña is expected to bring extreme weather conditions to the Himalayan state.

Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) on Saturday issued a circular directing its distribution divisions to closely monitor the state’s power network in view of the predicted adverse effects of La Niña. The circular instructed officials to complete all necessary technical work to strengthen the power supply system across the state.

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“The state may face adverse conditions such as extreme cold, moisture, fog, rain, and snowfall due to possible ‘La Niña’ conditions, which could affect the power distribution system. UPCL is fully committed to providing continuous, safe, and quality power supply to consumers,” read the UPCL circular issued to its field head offices.” It added, “UPCL is fully prepared and has made all necessary arrangements to ensure minimum disruption and uninterrupted service to consumers despite the potential La Niña impact predicted for the state.”

According to the UPCL order, all regional officers have been directed to ensure adequate availability of transformers, trolleys, cables, conductors, and insulators for quick repair and restoration of supply in case of an emergency. Emergency teams must remain active in the field, and all necessary equipment should be kept in proper order, the circular stated.

The UPCL circular further read: “Regular monitoring of load management and control of line losses must be ensured, considering the increased power demand during the winter season in view of the La Nina effect. All officers are directed to submit weekly reports on the status of preparations to the headquarters to facilitate state-level monitoring.”

The UPCL La Niña advisory also warned field staff to avoid going near open electric wires or broken poles during rain, snowfall, or storms.