Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Seven old grid substations operated by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) have officially been upgraded to an automated system as part of a long-term plan to modernize, digitize, and make the national power network smarter.
NEA had initiated work to automate 13 grid substations, and among them, Panchkhal, Banepa, Patan, Lainchaur, Balaju, Chapali, and Bhaktapur substations have now been integrated into a fully automated operational system.
These substations will now be operated remotely from a newly constructed central control room inside NEA’s building in Minbhawan. The “unmanned” smart operation system enables remote monitoring, control, and management of substations without staff needing to be physically present on-site.
Remaining Six Substations to Be Automated Within Two Months
The remaining six substations — Syuchatar, Teku, Matatirtha, Chabahil, K3, and Lamasanghu — will be brought under the automated system within the next two months.
Once upgraded, these substations will be connected to the Syuchatar Load Dispatch Center via the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, strengthening real-time grid monitoring and integrated power transmission management.
Automation to Reduce Outages and Improve Load Management
NEA Executive Director Manoj Silwal said that full automation will significantly reduce repeated power interruptions, improve real-time data use, simplify load management, lower operational and maintenance costs, reduce technical losses, and ultimately support the development of a smart national grid.
He also noted that automated substations will gradually operate in an unmanned mode, eliminating the need for on-site staff for routine operation.
ADB-Funded Project, Rs 610 Million Cost
The automation work has been carried out under the ADB-funded Electricity Transmission and Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project, using concessional loans. The total cost of the project is around Rs 610 million.
In addition, work is underway to automate another 64 substations across the country under ADB’s concessional financing. NEA aims to complete that phase within one and a half years, after which all grid substations nationwide will operate under a unified automated system.
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