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Thursday, June 5, 2014

Transformer breakdown at Tadong sub-station blamed for capital cuts AMEET OBEROI

GANGTOK, 04 June: Frequent power cuts over the past few days have left many in the capital complaining and still more speculating over the possible reasons. Power supply is sorely missed given that the days are sweltering hot and especially because the tourist season is also at its peak. The power cuts, sometimes for long hours, have been causing a lot of inconvenience to the people residing in Gangtok as well as its surrounding areas.
When contacted, the PCE-cum-Secretary, Power & Energy Department, PB Subba, informed NOW! that there were some power cuts done by the department in certain areas over the last few days because of maintenance work underway on one of its Current Transformers [CT] situated at Tadong. This 66 KV Transformer has failed since it is quite old and needs to be replaced with a new one, he added.
The break down happened on the evening of 02 June and the department was looking for a replacement in one of its stores but till now an exact replacement has not been found, he said and added that exact replacements were not readily available.
“But we have found a stand-in which can work for some time,” he added.
Further seeking to explain the intricate circuitry, he stated that there are similar smaller transformers that are connected to the larger CT and this he added were not able to take the load needed for the supply of electricity to Gangtok and its surrounding areas and was hence tripping on a regular basis.
Gangtok needs around 25 MW of electricity on any given day and the smaller transformers can take load of up to 10 MW and anything above 10 MW will trip the transformers and the circuit breaks down, he stated.
The Power Department is working hard to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to Gangtok and its surrounding areas as soon as possible, but until the exact replacement for the failed 66 KV transformer is found, residents here will have to cope with the inconvenience of power cuts.

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