Load-shedding in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad has been practically withdrawn by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), although the power utility increased the duration of load-shedding in other parts of the state on Friday.
The MSEDCL has upgraded Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to A-1 category based on distribution losses and hence load-shedding would be introduced only when necessary and that too temporarily. Load-shedding was introduced in the city on October 1 after a gap of five years due to less availability of power following the Telangana agitation which affected power generation.
In a press statement, the MSEDCL released a timetable of load-shedding in the state as the disparity in availability of power and demand has increased. The duration of load-shedding has been increased, but the cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have got relief due to the new categorisation.
The MSEDCL has included revenue headquarters in the A-1 category on the basis of distribution losses which are primarily about recovery of electricity bills. The electricity divisions of Shivajinagar, Kothrud, Pimpri, Bhosari, Rasta Peth, Padmavati, Parvati, Bund Garden and Ahmednagar Road in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have been included in this category.
Thanks to the new category, the load-shedding would not be introduced in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad normally. But it would be introduced only if there is very little availability of power and if it becomes necessary to do so even after introducing load-shedding in localities of A to F category.
In such an exceptional case, the load-shedding in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad would be for 3 hours 15 minutes. The timetable for such load-shedding, which would be implemented in exceptional cases, would be published in newspapers.
