Coimbatore MSME Association Seeks Stronger Power Network To Prevent Outages

MSMEs seek improvement of electricity infrastructure in Coimbatore district

The Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny Enterprises has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited to strengthen electricity infrastructure across Coimbatore district.

The association represents micro industries in Coimbatore city, where small-scale industrial units are concentrated alongside residential areas. Its president, J. James, made the appeal in a press release.

Dedicated lines for substations

The association has sought additional dedicated 11 kV/22 kV power lines connecting all 110 kV substations to prevent power outages during the summer season. It said the lines established for this purpose should not exceed five km in length.

Some existing power lines extend up to approximately 12 km, according to the association. Limiting the length of the dedicated lines to a maximum of five km is part of the association’s proposal for improving the electricity network.

The association has also called for new, high-capacity and high-quality transformers in Coimbatore city, as well as in surrounding town panchayats and panchayats. It said the transformers are needed to address voltage fluctuations.

It has further proposed inter-connecting all power lines and substations to allow flexible routing of electricity. In the event of a fault, the affected section should be isolated while the remaining areas continue to receive an uninterrupted power supply, it said.

Maintenance and night-time response

The Ring Main Units and automatic switches installed by the Energy Department in the district require better maintenance, according to the association. It has also sought the establishment of a ‘Fault Off-Call’ service specifically to address night hour power outages.

The service should be available in all areas and circles surrounding Coimbatore city, the association said. The demand comes alongside its wider request for improvements to power lines, substations, transformers and switching equipment.

The association said Tamil Nadu has over one lakh LTCT, or Low Tension Current Transformer, electricity connections. These connections support more than 10 lakh micro and small-scale entrepreneurs, according to the association.

Demand charge and equipment upgrades

The association has also sought a reduction in demand charges for LT CT industries. It said the fixed charge, or demand charge, increased from ₹35 per kilowatt to ₹162 per kilowatt in September 2023.

Association representatives submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on July 29, 2026, requesting that the fixed charge be reverted to the previous rate of ₹35 per kilowatt for a sanctioned load of up to 112 kW. The representatives said the Chief Minister assured them that action would be taken, but the change has not yet been implemented.

The association has also asked for the conductors of existing High Tension power lines to be upgraded so that the entire line can withstand maximum current loads. It has sought an increase in the capacity of existing distribution transformers to facilitate higher power distribution.

The proposals have been made in the interest of the welfare of micro and small-scale entrepreneurs, the association said.

Source: The Hindu