In a bid to bolster the power infrastructure, a new 160 MVA Power Transformer, PTR-4, has been installed at the 220 kV Undi substation in Bhimavaram district. The transformer was recently commissioned as part of the government’s efforts to address the increasing electricity demands in the region. Prior to the installation, the substation was equipped with only three power transformers, which were heavily loaded due to the rising electricity consumption across various sectors. This led to the implementation of an emergency load relief of around 50 to 60 MW daily between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the government successfully installed the PTR-4 in a record time of just 17 days. The new transformer is expected to resolve the overloading and low-voltage issues in Bhimavaram district, catering to the power requirements of nearly two lakh people. It will also support 32,000 agricultural pump sets of 5 HP capacity each and nearly 30,000 aquaculture electricity connections of 5 HP capacity each.
The additional capacity at the Undi substation will reduce network stress and overloading issues in the neighbouring Razole and Mummidivaram areas, thereby enhancing the overall stability, reliability, and operational flexibility of the regional power network.