Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up preparations to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the peak summer months, with Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo directing officials to maintain normal electricity services across the state.
Reviewing the preparedness of the Energy Department, Singh Deo emphasised that there should be no disruption in power supply despite rising demand during the intense heat. He also reiterated that domestic consumers should not face power disconnection due to unpaid bills during the summer.
Officials informed that the state has been successfully meeting the rising power demand, with the peak demand in April reaching 6,087 MW. The demand is projected to rise further to around 6,200 MW in May and 6,100 MW in June. Compared to last year, April has recorded a 2 per cent increase in power consumption.
To meet the growing demand, the department has coordinated with Odisha Hydro Power Corporation to maximise hydroelectric generation during peak months. It is also working closely with thermal power plants and has made power banking arrangements to ensure adequate supply.
In addition, discussions are underway with Rourkela Steel Plant for procuring 50 to 100 MW of power. The state is also prepared to purchase additional electricity from power exchanges as per requirement.
The government has also taken steps to strengthen consumer services. The capacity of call centres has been increased from 100 to 150 logins per day, while missed-call and single-click facilities have been introduced to provide real-time information on outages. Consumers can now register complaints easily through IVRS, websites, mobile apps, and self-service platforms.
Advance information regarding scheduled power cuts is being shared through SMS, WhatsApp, social media platforms, and local announcements to keep consumers informed.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to respond promptly to complaints and remain vigilant to prevent disruptions during the heatwave. Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev, CMD OPTCL Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, and GRIDCO MD Satya Priya Rath, along with representatives of DISCOMs and power utilities, were present at the meeting.
