Haryana clears purchase of over 26,000 transformers to strengthen power network

The Haryana government on Monday approved the purchase of 26,161 transformers for the state's power corporations as part of efforts to strengthen electricity distribution infrastructure and maintain adequate backup capacity during emergencies.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the High-Powered Purchase Committee (HPPC) chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The committee also cleared the procurement of between 5,000 and 7,500 specialised tools and plant (T&P) kits for linemen and assistant linemen working with the state's electricity distribution companies.

Ministers Mahipal Dhanda, Vipul Goel and Shyam Singh Rana, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Arun Kumar Gupta and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Transformers get boost

The procurement of 26,161 transformers is aimed at ensuring sufficient availability across Haryana's electricity distribution network as demand and infrastructure requirements increase.

Saini said the state government was giving special attention to providing uninterrupted electricity to consumers while simultaneously strengthening the underlying power infrastructure.

He said efforts were being made to ensure transformers were readily available wherever required and that power corporations maintained sufficient reserve stocks to respond to breakdowns and other emergencies.

Transformers are a critical component of the distribution network, and failures can disrupt electricity supply to households, businesses and agricultural consumers. Maintaining adequate backup units can consequently help utilities replace damaged equipment faster and reduce restoration time following faults.

The latest procurement is expected to bolster the inventories of Haryana's power utilities and improve their ability to respond to local network failures.

Safety kits cleared

Alongside the transformers, the committee approved procurement of 5,000 to 7,500 special T&P kits for personnel engaged in field operations.

Each kit will comprise 14 items intended to improve occupational safety for linemen and assistant linemen working with Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN).

Field personnel regularly undertake maintenance, repairs and restoration work on electricity distribution infrastructure, often involving live networks and hazardous working conditions.

The Chief Minister said protecting employees working in the power corporations was a priority for the government, prompting the committee to accord priority approval to the safety equipment.

Focus on reliable supply

The procurement comes as Haryana continues to expand and upgrade its electricity infrastructure to meet rising demand from urban centres, industries and agriculture.

Rapid development in areas such as Gurugram, Faridabad and other parts of the National Capital Region has placed additional pressure on distribution infrastructure, while reliable electricity supply remains equally important for the state's large agricultural sector.

The government has been investing in augmentation of substations, transmission capacity and distribution infrastructure to accommodate increasing electricity requirements and reduce interruptions.

Saini said strengthening the system and maintaining adequate equipment reserves were essential to ensuring uninterrupted power supply across the state.

Emergency preparedness

The decision to build up transformer stocks is also intended to improve the ability of power corporations to deal with emergencies.

Transformer failures can occur because of overloading, equipment faults, extreme weather and other network-related problems. Replacement can be delayed when utilities do not have suitable units immediately available.

By maintaining sufficient backup transformers, the government expects UHBVN and DHBVN to respond more quickly when equipment needs to be replaced.

The simultaneous procurement of safety kits seeks to address the human element of network maintenance, ensuring field workers have appropriate equipment while carrying out potentially hazardous operations.

The Chief Minister said both requirements were therefore given priority during the HPPC meeting — strengthening the physical electricity network while improving protection for employees responsible for keeping it operational.