CHENNAI: Electricity Minister V Senthilbalaji on Friday said a total of 5,392 consumers were facing power outages in six districts, including the Nilgiris, Erode and Salem due to heavy rains and flooding along low-level areas of Cauvery.

"To avoid electrocution, we have stopped power supply in some distribution transformers as a precautionary measure. Out of 3.76 lakh distribution transformers in the State, the power supply has been stopped in a total of 186 transformers. Power supply stopped in 12 DT in Mettur, Erode (2), Namakkal (16) and four each in Karur and Thanjavur due to flooding while 150 in the Nilgiris due to heavy rain, " he said, after holding a review meeting at Tangedco headquarters.

A maximum of 150 DTs were stopped in the Nilgiris district where trees were uprooted in 12 places on the power lines. "Works are under way to remove the trees by Friday evening and restore power supply in the Nilgiris. Power supply along the Cauvery river will be restored only when the water level recedes," he said, adding that a total of 5,392 consumers were facing outage including about 5000 in the Nilgiris alone.

He added that special officers were appointed to restore power supply.

When asked whether hydro power generation has gone up, he said that hydro power generation is being used as per the requirement. "At present, windmills generate 5,200 MW and solar generation stands at 2,300 MW. To accomodate wind and solar generation, the thermal power generation has been reduced to 950 MW. The state's total power demand stands at 12,300 MW as against normal demand of about 16,000 MW, " he said.

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