Shivani Apartments @ Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai

The issue of power shortage in Tamilnadu should be a well known to everyone. But what you may not know is that though we are having nearly continuous power supply in Shivani, we are getting very low voltage of power. This has been causing numerous issues including frequent blow out of fuses.

Being summer season, many of the residents are using Air-conditioner particularly in the afternoons and nights. This draws high power resulting in frequent melt down of nearly a half-inch thick clamps and fuse wires. This happens more frequently in Block-3. There was a total outage for about 12 hours from the night of Thursday, 13th May due to this. Consequently, the consumption of diesel for generators has increased since over a month.

The only way we can reduce this problem, if not eliminate it fully, is to observe the following measures to the extent possible :

1. Power off the wall switches of all appliances like TV, Microwave, chimney, computer, Geiser, etc. when not in use. Putting them in standby mode consumes at least 25% power of normal use.

2. Use lesser number of lights when possible.

3. Try to use fewer Air-conditioners by accommodating more people in the same room. Switch-off stabilizer when not in use. Ensuring that the windows are closed without gaps and filters are cleaned will save lot of power.

4. It has been determined that a few of the HRC fuses (3 are situated below your meter boxes) have blown out. This has resulted in some of you using power from only one phase leading to stress on that phase. You may not know it until your apt’s main fuse blows out or your main switch trips frequently. Our supervisor Suresh has a list of such apts. You have to pay for replacing this fuse, to ensure that you get uninterrupted power.

5. All the lifts of Blocks-2 & 3 will remain closed between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM. In case of emergency call the security at 4205 6172 (Block-2) or 4205 6173 (Block-3).

Hope by initiating these self-control measures we can collectively tide over the common problem till the summer is out of our way.

President, SOA Date : 18th May 2010