Parliament Question: Load on Low- capacity Power Transformers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3145 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 LOAD ON LOW- CAPACITY POWER TRANSFORMERS †3145. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

Will the Minister of POWER

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the load on low-capacity (low watt/low kVA) power transformers in rural areas of the country particularly in Bihar increases significantly due to a high number of consumers resulting in frequent failure/impairment of most transformers;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Bihar and if not, the main technical reasons for the same; and

(c) the steps taken or being taken by the Government so far to find a permanent solution to this serious power issue in rural areas and to upgrade the capacity of power transformers? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) to (c): Electricity is a concurrent subject and power distribution is handled by distribution utilities that function under the guidance of their respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission and State Government. As per the Electricity Act, 2003, distribution of electricity is a licensed activity and it is the duty of the respective distribution licensee to develop and maintain an efficient and safe distribution system in its area of supply. Therefore, the responsibility for taking necessary measures for augmentation and maintenance of distribution system to avoid power outages and to improve the quality of power supply to the consumers rests with the respective distribution utilities in the country including utilities of Bihar (NBPDCL and SBPDCL).

The loading of Distribution Transformer increases when the number of consumers connected to the same transformer increases or the load of existing consumers increases. This is monitored by the distribution utility while managing its network.

………2.- 2 - Government of India (GoI) has supplemented the efforts of the States to help them provide quality supply of power, earlier through schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) launched in 2014, Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) launched in October 2017, and currently under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) launched in July 2021.

Under RDSS, financial assistance is being provided to distribution utilities for upgradation of distribution infrastructure works such as upgradation/augmentation of substations and distribution transformers, replacement of conductors, new HT/LT lines, feeder bifurcation, feeder segregation, aerial bunched cabling (ABC)/covered conductor, underground cableing and smart metering, based on proposals submitted by the Distribution Utilities.

Under DDUGJY and SAUBHAGYA, works worth Rs.62,922.15 crores were executed at the national level including Rs. 8,676.9 crores in the State of Bihar.

Under RDSS, loss reduction infrastructure and smart metering works worth Rs.

1.53 Lakh crores and Rs. 1.31 lakh crores have been sanctioned at the national level. This includes works worth Rs. 9,685.79 crores and Rs.2,021.22 crores sanctioned for loss reduction infrastructure and smart metering respectively, for the State of Bihar.

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