Almost 19 dozens transformers are not functioning in the area because of the overloading.The supply of cooking gas here has stopped following the blockade imposed by India. People are using rice cookers and electric kettles and heaters to prepare their food and to make tea. Shree Kanta Ghimire, chairman of Lamjung Electricity Consumers Cooperative, informed that more and more people are opting for electrical appliances in their homes.
"People are also using room heaters and electric rods to boil their water as the weather turns cold and this has also added to the transformer overloads," said Ghimire.
The transformers, which are of 25 KVA to 200 KVA, have become useless. Technicians at Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) informed that five transformers of 25 KVA, nine transformers of 50 KVA and one each of 160 KVA and 200 KVA have stopped functioning.
Some of the malfunctioning transformers have been repaired while some others have been replaced.
According to the arrangement with the cooperative, NEA has to bear 10 percent of the maintenance cost of the transformers, said Ghimire. He said the utility has already spent more than Rs. 1.5 million for repairing the transformers.
Some 4,000 locals at Besisahar, Puma, Baglungpani, Bhatgaun, Shikhra and Archalbot are directly affected by the transformer breakdowns.
NEA said the transformers can be saved if the public uses electricity bearing in mind the capacity and nature of their electrical appliances. The utility has been providing electricity to 25,000 consumers in Lamjung and Tanahu districts.
Related story
Cooking gas not in short supply, says NOC
