NEA assures uninterrupted power supply during Tihar, urges consumers to use electricity freely

KATHMANDU: As the festival of lights, Tihar, approaches, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has assured that there will be no power cuts or load-shedding across the country this festive season. With just two days remaining before the celebrations begin, power utility has stated that the power supply system is stable and capable of meeting nationwide demand, urging consumers to use electricity confidently and celebrate without fear of outages.

Tihar, regarded as the festival of light and prosperity, is marked by bright decorations, electric illuminations, and vibrant celebrations across Nepal. Traditionally, the festival brings increased household consumption of electricity as homes, temples, and streets are adorned with lights and decorative bulbs. However, the NEA has clarified that this surge in household usage will not strain the system due to decreased industrial demand during the holidays.

According to NEA spokesperson Rajan Dhakal, public concern over possible load-shedding during Tihar is misplaced. “Earlier, people used to think the highest load occurred during Laxmi Puja, but industrial operations shut down during Tihar as workers return home, leading to an overall decrease in national power demand,” Dhakal explained. He added that while household consumption rises slightly, it does not significantly affect the total system load.

Dhakal noted that the maximum demand in Nepal’s power system typically peaks in Bhadra, while in the Kathmandu Valley it is observed during Mangsir, Poush, and Magh, when power demand reaches between 550 to 600 megawatts. As temperatures drop, household consumption rises, but the monsoon-related challenges decline, keeping the system stable.

NEA’s Festival Readiness Plan

The NEA has deployed special teams and technical staff across the country to ensure uninterrupted electricity during the festival period. The authority has instructed its employees to remain on high alert to promptly respond to any system faults or disruptions that may occur.

Addressing the issue of flickering lights — often noticed as “झ्याप–झ्याप्प” — the NEA clarified that such problems generally stem from technical and monsoon-related causes such as tree branches touching power lines or landslides affecting poles in hilly and forested regions. “For safety reasons, automatic shutdowns occur during such incidents, and restoring lines may take some time,” Dhakal stated.

The authority emphasized that efforts are ongoing to enhance system reliability through expansion of new transmission lines, upgrading substations, and improving power infrastructure. These projects are expected to make Nepal’s electricity supply more dependable in the long run.

Dhakal also informed that while recent floods have affected a few privately owned hydropower plants, government-run infrastructure remains intact, ensuring stable national power generation and distribution.

In previous years, Nepal’s total electricity consumption during Laxmi Puja reached approximately 1,600 megawatts, and this year’s demand is projected to remain within the same range. The NEA assured consumers that all technical and logistical preparations have been completed to maintain continuous electricity supply throughout the festive season.

With the slogan “Celebrate Tihar with Light and Energy,” the NEA has urged the public to use electricity freely, saying Nepal has entered an era of energy sufficiency and reliability.