Apart from sweating their way through two-hour power outages every day, residents have to also deal with voltage fluctuation, which is taking a toll on their electrical equipment.
Several localities in and around the city including Madipakkam, Kolathur, Perambur, Choolaimedu, Arumbakkam, Tiruvottiyur, Mylapore, Nanganallur, Urapakkam, Chrompet and Thiruninravur are facing voltage fluctuations problems.
“Last night, the voltage started fluctuating at around 11 pm and eventually reached a point where the fan was turning at a very low speed.
We almost hoped that the power would go off completely so that the inverter would start working. The low voltage situation, however, lasted for nearly two hours,” said Mr S. Kannabiran, a resident of Devi Nagar, Kolathur.
Mr Sathish Babu, a software engineer and a resident of Chitalapakkam said that air conditioners did not work even with a double booster in low voltage and ceiling fans ran at slow speeds.
“I have been complaining about the fluctuation in voltage to the authorities for a week now. But no action was taken on it,” he said.
Tangedco officials said that non-improvement of the power distribution infrastructure at par with the real estate boom that Chennai and suburbs had witnessed in the last decade was the main reason for the voltage fluctuation problem.
“We are taking steps to strengthen the distribution network in the city and its adjoining areas,” a senior official said, adding that once the corporation got the Rs 3,500 crore funding from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency it would strengthen and improve the transmission and distribution network in the state.
The official said that works on the 230 KV SS at Athipet and Vysarpadi were nearing completion and it would be commissioned very shortly.
“Works have begun for setting up two 230 KV SS at Koyambedu and Mylapore, while tendering process is on for the proposed Guindy SS,” the official said. Of the five proposed 400 KV SS, work has begun for setting up a SS at Thervoy Kandigai.