Management of HT Distribution

KODAGU ELECTRIC POWER INFRASTRUCTURE-MANAGEMENT : 

Kodagu District an independant "C" State under Central rule earlier  is now part of KARNATAKA from 1956 after State Reorganisation, with  4109 Sq Kms area [ East west -66KMs and North south 96 Kms] , Five Revenue Taluks and Nineteen Hoblis accounting  for around 40% of its geographical area as Reserved Forests, Deemed Forests Devara Kadu and Uruduve & Social forestry. 

MADIKERI Town is the District Head quarter and geographical centre. NH-275, SH90, SH-91, SH-27 passes through the District connecting the west coast with rest of Karnataka. Western Ghat Brahmagiri, Pushpagiri & Talakaveri Eco sensitive Zone form the western stretch of District. Due to these ghats District receives maximum rains from south west monsoon. Rain water drains the hill slope and flows in River Kaveri & its tributaries. Part of the rain fall in Sampaje & Bhagamandla Hobli joins Arabian sea. 

11kv feeders of Sampaje , Bhagamandala, Hoddur, Maragodu,Hoddur, Galibeedu  of Madikeri Taluk are run in above ghats.  Rural areas  in western ghat borders are having low voltage power complaints during peak irrigation season from January to April due to lengthy 11Kv transmissions and distribution transformers and LT lines located in remote hilly regions.  Loads are concentrated after mid point of feeder  and spread over in Coffee estates and Areca gardens. Among the Five taluks in KODAGU MADIKERI Taluk with population of 1,55,000 spread over in Urban areas of Madikeri, Murnad, Napoklu, Bhagamandala,Sampaje  and the rest in 67 revenue villages scattered in estates and agricultural pockets.

ESCOM has conducted detailed study and proposed to establish substations at load centres to improve voltage and minimise energy loss under RDSS project.  As an alternative till substation is completed and commissioned,  feeder  improvements are being proposed for all Rural feeders whose VR & Energy loss is more than 15%..

i)To instal switched line capacitor banks at load centres of feeders with predominant IP loads to improve power factor & to  reduce line loss & voltage drop. OR  ii) To instal Voltage Regulators .

iii) To instal Auto Reclosers/ RMU's  to sectionalise faults for major spur lines feeding hilly terrains.

iv) Reconductoring the main Trunk line.

 Government of India Union Cabinet has given nod to Green Energy Corridor-Phase II for extending 10,750 km circuit kms and 2750 Mws Transformation capacity  to facilitate Grid integration.{Ref:  Tweet by Minister for Power Mr R K Singh}. 

MNRE & Ministry of Power New Delhi are encouraging Farmers Associations,  Electricity Consumer Forums and Village Cooperative Societies  to come forward and plan for installing community Solar PV grid tied plants at load centres to ease off seasonal peaking problems in system. In places where HYDEL IPP are there, it is recommended to consider installing Solar Plants so that their infrastructure installed for evacuation of their power in rainy season can be put to use in summer months when Hydel Generating Stations are idle.

KPTCL has sanctioned the following new substations to KODAGU,the Hill District of Karnataka under State & Central funds.i) Bhagamandla ii) Hudikeri iii) Madapura iv) Kodlipet v) Koodige vi) Balele vii) Sampaje viii) Kalthmadu ix) Maragodu  and (upgradation of  Four 33/11KV substations in MURNAD/ SIDDAPURA/ SRIMANGALA/ SOMWARPET).

Need for  Improvement and Reorganisation: District now needs an independant O&M circle with head quarters at Madikeri for monitoring & coordination with implementation of RDSS projects. Additional O&M Division at VIRAJPET for Virajpet & Ponnampet Taluks, And additional sub division for .Madikeri O&M sub division now with Six O&M units and One 33/11 KV substation & vast jurisdiction catered by sixteen feeders  is the need for smooth functioning of new improvement works and maintenance.