KATHMANDU, Nov 2: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has assured consumers that there will be no load-shedding on Laxmi Puja, the main day of the Tihar festival, which falls on Sunday.
Despite the shutdown of 431 MW of power generation capacity and extensive damage to several hydropower projects caused by the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood on August 26, the NEA says it is prepared to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply throughout the festive period.
NEA Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said the authority has made adequate arrangements to meet the surge in electricity demand typically recorded on Laxmi Puja, when households across the country use decorative lights and electrical appliances.
According to Shrestha, a total of 529 MW of electricity generation capacity has been added to the national grid over the past year. He noted that electricity demand from the industrial sector declines significantly during the festive period, making it easier to meet increased household consumption.
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Nepal has enjoyed load-shedding-free Tihar celebrations for a decade, following the end of chronic power outages in 2016. Previously, the country experienced power cuts lasting up to 18 hours a day.
To strengthen supply during Tihar, the NEA will operate all three hydropower plants at Kulekhani, which have a combined installed capacity of 106 MW. The facilities include Kulekhani I (60 MW), Kulekhani II (32 MW), and Kulekhani III (14 MW).
The Kulekhani reservoir-based plants are typically used during the dry winter season when generation from run-of-river hydropower projects declines. With reservoir levels currently full, the plants are expected to operate at full capacity during the festival.
Electricity demand rises sharply during Tihar, particularly on Laxmi Puja, due to extensive use of decorative lights and electrical appliances. Last year, the peak demand on Laxmi Puja reached 1,650 MW, and the NEA estimates that demand this year will exceed that figure.
Although reduced industrial consumption generally creates a surplus of electricity in the national grid during the festival, sudden increases in demand on specific feeders and transformers in urban areas can cause tripping and localized outages.
Shrestha said the NEA has prioritized maintenance and system monitoring to minimize such disruptions. "Efforts are underway to increase transformer capacity in areas where demand is expected to rise and to balance loads across feeders in various locations," he said.
The NEA expressed confidence that these measures will help ensure a reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply throughout the Tihar festival.
