 |
|
The arrival of the northeast monsoon in Tamil Nadu has brought welcome relief in the form of copious rainfall, significantly reducing the state's power consumption. The southwest monsoon had receded, and the northeast monsoon's arrival coincided with a marked decrease in electricity usage. According to Tangedco, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company, power consumption has dropped to 302 million units per day, a 20% reduction from the 380 million units consumed on October 1st, when rainfall was scarce.
This decrease in power consumption can be attributed to the impact of the monsoon rains on both residential and agricultural sectors. Heavy rainfall across the state has led to a significant decrease in the need for air conditioners, a major contributor to power consumption during the hot months. With the rains filling farmlands and agricultural areas, farmers no longer require motor pumps to draw water from deep borewells, further reducing power usage.
In response to the potential for disruptions to electricity supply during the monsoon season, Tangedco has taken proactive measures to ensure swift relief efforts. Nodal officers have been assigned to all 15 zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). These officers, Executive Engineers appointed by Tangedco, will work in coordination with GCC officials to address any power supply disruptions. Their responsibilities include replacing damaged poles, cutting power in low-lying areas, and repairing technical faults in transformers.
The northeast monsoon hit Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, October 15th, bringing heavy rains to numerous parts of the state. Chennai and surrounding districts, including Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur, experienced heavy to very heavy rains, leading to flooding in several areas. To assist people displaced from low-lying areas, the state revenue department has opened 5,141 relief centers across Tamil Nadu, with each center capable of accommodating between 50 to 1,000 people.
Source: TN's power consumption drops by one-fifth with advent of northeast monsoon