The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation blames the rampant use of air-conditioners as the main cause of power cuts in the city.
However, if you thought air-conditioner sales have increased, think again. In fact, retailers of electrical equipment including air-conditioners and inverters complain that sales have reached a stagnation point.
K. Vijay, director, Ratna Fan House, rued that sales of air-conditioners have come down by a minimum of 15 per cent and that of inverters by more than 25 per cent. He said there are very few new consumers buying air-conditioning equipment as residents are only going for replacement of old sets.
The inverter sale scenario is even worse, as scheduled day-time power cuts, which have been occurring the past few years, have come down recently.
Retailers said customers mainly called for service of inverters, and replacement of batteries, rather than for making new purchases.