The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has said technical glitches in the power transformers led to the frequent disruptions of power supply in the Kathmandu Valley this week. “Timely maintenance of transformers got delayed due to rain in many of the sites. That’s why the concerns from the side of consumers is obvious,” NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising told the media on Friday. Ghising also argued that replacement of the power transformers by the new ones due to increased power consumption also resulted in irregular power supply. But, this problem would be resolved from today itself, he said.

He, however, made it clear that the irregular power supply is not due to short supply of power, adding that the NEA was in the capacity to meet the demand for electricity. Nine substations are in the development stage for the management of power supply in the Kathmandu Valley and power up to 2,000 MW could be supplied after the completion of those substations.

Also the current problem was the result of electrical fire in some feeders, the NEA Chief said.Ghising was of the argument that the current problem is not nationwide but only in the Kathmandu Valley and is also not due to short supply. Currently, the maximum demand for electricity in the evening is 1,700 MW and 1,550 MW to 1,600 MW in the morning.