Patna, March 13: Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) plans to install 100 high-capacity transformers in key areas to rid the state capital of repeated incidents of heavy load sparking off fires in transformers. New 315KV transformers will replace the 200KV ones.

“For the first time, we have decided to install 315KV transformers at busy locations — congested markets and narrow lanes — with high load concentration. Additional transformers could not be installed there earlier because of the infrastructure,” Pesu general manager-cum-chief engineer S.K.P. Singh told The Telegraph.

The undertaking has already issued an order for the purchase of 100 high-capacity transformers that would be delivered by March-end.

The new transformers would not only relieve the residents of the state capital from frequent power cuts because of transformer fires but will also be cost effective as they will replace the older ones using the same structure. Space crunch was another reason as to why new transformers could not be installed at these sites earlier, said Singh.

Asked whether the undertaking intends to replace all the transformers in the state capital because of increasing load growth on transformers, Singh said: “We have a load growth of seven to eight per cent each year. The 200KV transformers will be the standard ones, which the board will continue with. There is no plan to replace all 3,700 transformers.”

He, however, said there was a system in place to change or install high-capacity transformers in some areas.

If a particular area is overloaded, the field officer has to make an on-the-spot assessment in a prescribed form. Then, the plan has to be submitted to Pesu.

The 315KV transformers would be installed in a phase-wise manner according to the requirement but once it is installed, it would reduce the cases of transformer fires to a large extent, as the new ones would cater to large number of consumers, Singh said.

The old transformers cost around Rs 1.25 lakh each, while each of the new ones would cost around Rs 2 lakh.

About 3,700 transformers supply power to around 3 lakh consumers in the capital under the Pesu jurisdiction, which has been divided into 10 divisions from Patna City to Danapur.

Asked about the number of cases Pesu receives every year, the general manager said: “It is difficult to tell the exact numbers. Between April and August, we receive bulk complaints of transformer fires. Around 10 per cent of those are old transformers.”