Nagpur: With temperatures soaring across Vidarbha, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has directed its field staff to complete all pre-monsoon maintenance and repair works before 12 noon to minimise inconvenience to consumers facing the harsh summer. This doesn’t mean that the short-term power cuts will not happen after 12 noon.Citizens are already frustrated due to multiple short-term power cuts across the city. The power cuts are happening other than the scheduled outages over which the MSEDCL has yet to issue any clarity.The recent directive comes at a time when the region is reeling under intense heat. Officials said that while the ongoing pre-monsoon works are crucial to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the rainy season, prolonged outages during peak afternoon hours were causing significant discomfort to consumers.Chief engineer of Nagpur circle, Dilip Dodke, issued clear instructions to all concerned teams to plan and execute maintenance activities in the morning hours. “Power supply disruptions are unavoidable during such works, but given the rising temperatures, efforts must be made to restore supply before noon,” an official said.MSEDCL has already intensified pre-monsoon preparedness across the Nagpur district. The works include trimming tree branches, obstructing power lines and strengthening the overall distribution network.Teams are also engaged in tightening loose conductors, correcting sagging wires between poles, replacing damaged insulators and checking transformer oil levels at substations. Preventive measures such as replacing silica gel in breathers, repairing breakers and ensuring proper battery backup systems are also being carried out.Special focus has been placed on strengthening the earthing system, which plays a critical role in ensuring safety and preventing faults. Officials said large-scale work is underway to improve earthing of transformers, poles, feeder pillars and distribution boxes. In waterlogging-prone areas, feeder pillars are being elevated to avoid disruptions during the monsoon.Officials acknowledged that most components of the power distribution system are exposed to weather conditions, making them vulnerable to seasonal changes. “These preventive measures are necessary to ensure reliable and uninterrupted power supply during both summer and monsoon,” an official said.The power utility has sought consumers’ cooperation, as temporary outages are necessary for long-term reliability. It has also instructed officials to inform consumers in advance about scheduled outages through mobile applications and the NDM system.
