The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has formed a five-member task force to manage electricity demand and ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the upcoming winter, following flood damage to hydropower projects with more than 400 MW of generation capacity in Rasuwa.
The task force was formed as part of the NEA’s preparations to meet the expected rise in electricity demand during the dry season, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas.
A meeting chaired by NEA Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha on Tuesday decided to expedite studies and operational measures aimed at maintaining a reliable electricity supply during the winter, according to the authority.
The five-member task force, coordinated by the director of the NEA’s Bagmati Provincial Office, will monitor electricity demand and supply conditions and implement necessary measures. It has also been instructed to submit daily progress reports to the executive director and immediately report any problems encountered during implementation.
The preparations come after the August 26 floods disrupted power generation at several hydropower plants in the Trishuli River basin. The damage has placed additional pressure on electricity supply and demand management as the country approaches the dry season, when domestic hydropower generation typically declines.
Despite the challenges, Shrestha said the country would not face load-shedding during the upcoming winter. He said the NEA was already taking necessary measures to ensure adequate electricity supply.
The meeting also set deadlines for completing ongoing transmission and distribution projects in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas to strengthen the electricity network before the onset of the dry season.
The NEA has further decided to explore options and take necessary measures to ensure a reliable electricity supply to flood-affected districts, including Rasuwa and Nuwakot.
Meanwhile, the state-owned utility has mobilized a technical team to assess the feasibility of restoring the flood-damaged Devighat substation to operation. The study is expected to help determine measures for restoring the affected power infrastructure and strengthening electricity supply in the region.
