In recent weeks, residents and business owners across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have been grappling with frustrating power outages lasting anywhere from one to seven hours, sparking widespread discontent and inconvenience. The issue came to the forefront on Monday when several areas, including parts of Andheri (west) and Madanpura in Byculla, experienced significant power cuts lasting up to two hours. Residents in Kamothe reported repeated outages over consecutive days, describing the situation as “unwarranted” and deeply distressing.
Expressing their frustration, a resident from Andheri lamented the lack of compensation for enduring prolonged periods without essential amenities such as fans or air conditioning, particularly in the sweltering heat. The intermittent power interruptions not only disrupt daily routines but also pose risks to the functionality of electronic devices and household appliances.
Similarly, a resident from Byculla recounted his experience of enduring a nearly two-hour power outage in the early hours of Sunday, disrupting his sleep and leaving him stranded at home amidst sultry weather conditions. Attempts to seek assistance from relevant authorities proved futile, exacerbating the frustration among affected residents. Sources suggest that peak load consumption, exacerbated by the heightened use of fans, air conditioners, and appliances during the summer months, has contributed to the frequent outages. While power supply is eventually restored, the increased load factor in these areas poses challenges for maintaining uninterrupted service.
Experts emphasize the need for power utilities to anticipate and address the rising temperature-induced increase in peak load, suggesting the reinforcement of infrastructure in areas with low load factors to mitigate disruptions. However, challenges persist, with ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the underground Metro work at Dharavi, exacerbating the situation in certain areas.
As residents continue to grapple with prolonged power disruptions, there is a pressing need for proactive measures by authorities and utility providers to address infrastructure challenges and ensure reliable and uninterrupted power supply across the MMR.
