Now Reading: Chandigarh power reliability improves but complaints jump 15%
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Chandigarh power reliability improves but complaints jump 15%
The Story in Brief
Chandigarh’s electricity distribution network saw a marked improvement in power-supply reliability during the July-September quarter of FY27, with the frequency and duration of interruptions declining substantially, according to the quarterly performance report of Chandigarh Power Distribution Ltd (CPDL) to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). The System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) fell from 5.37 in June to 1.29 in September, a reduction of nearly 76%. The System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) declined from 2.21 to 0.64 over the same period.
Despite the reliability gains, consumer complaints rose 15% from 53,057 in April-June to 61,041 in July-September. Cable breakdowns accounted for nearly 60% of all fresh complaints, rising from 33,719 to 36,544. Billing complaints increased from 6,814 to 7,280, which CPDL attributed to the transition from bimonthly to monthly billing following a JERC directive. Scheduled outage complaints more than doubled, from 1,570 to 3,710, and meter complaints rose 62%, from 728 to 1,176. The report also recorded 1,021 faulty meters, all shown as rectified or replaced by September-end.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The data shows two conflicting trends: network reliability, as measured by standard indices, has sharply improved, yet customer grievances continue to climb, driven largely by billing changes and cable faults. The rise in billing complaints during the switch to monthly cycles is explained by CPDL as a teething issue, but the 136% jump in scheduled outage complaints and the increase in meter and transfer-related problems suggest operational coordination has not kept pace with infrastructure performance. The JERC directive that prompted monthly billing is itself the next trigger to watch: if complaint volumes do not stabilise in the October-December quarter, the regulator may revisit the transition timeline or impose compliance conditions.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
