The drastic drop in electricity demand during Cyclone Nilam meant most parts of the state did not face load shedding from Wednesday till Thursday noon.
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) officials had switched off supply along the coastal belt between Mahabalipuram and Chennai. They also stopped supply in suburban areas where there are overhead cables.
Due to the lack of supply, the load dropped from 11,500 Mega Watt (MW) to 7,900 MW, a drop of over 3,600 MW. The intense winds helped generate around 1,500 MW from wind mills. “Even in areas where power supply was restored by night, people did not run air-conditioners,” noted a Tangedco official.
This power was routed to the districts and consumers who have been facing hours of power cuts did not have to face load shedding for at least a day-and-a-half. “Even the agricultural consumption was low. The entire state did not have load shedding on Wednesday till Thursday noon,” said the official.
However the relief will only be temporary. “Power has been restored in most parts of the city and people have started using electrical equipment. The load will go up,” the official said.
Meanwhile, power was not restored in many suburbs including Kolathur, Tirunindravur, Pattabiram, Tambaram and Urapakkam till Thursday morning.
“It was a terrible experience. We were able to manage with the inverter till night by running just one fan and light. We just had rice and curd as it was impossible to cook anything else. Supply was restored at 10.30 a.m on Thursday,” said S. Vijitha, a resident of Annai Rajammal Nagar, Puthagaram.
M. Desikan, a resident of Menambedu also said supply was restored only by Thursday morning. “Tangedco officials explained that the supply was cut to prevent overhead cables from snapping due to the wind or treefall,” he said.
A senior Tangedco official said power was restored in most parts of the city and suburbs by Wednesday night. “But in some areas, trees fell down and overhead cables were snapped. As the personnel could not work in the rain, it was repaired on Thursday morning and supply was restored,” said the official.
