Kon Tum Province’s power sector takes measures to ensure electricity supply during the dry season. — Photo www.baokontum.com.vn

KON TUM — The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum is actively taking measures to meet high demand for electricity during the dry season, an increase of 22 per cent compared to the the same period last year.

The electricity demand for irrigation purposes is expected to increase by nearly 15 per cent year-on-year.

The dry season in the Central Highlands region normally extends between November and the end of April. The hot, dry peak occurs in March and April.

To ensure electricity supply, the Kon Tum Electricity Company has set up power supply plans to avoid power shortages.

The company plans to reduce the power supply if there is limited power supply from the national power grid.

It has also strengthened inspections of substations with high loss rates, customers with large power consumption, and substations serving irrigation pumping in Đăk Hà and Sa Thầy districts and Kon Tum City.

The company has forecast electricity demand for irrigation in each area and raised the capacity of substations and low-voltage power lines.

In collaboration with the communes’ people’s committees, the company will plan irrigation schedules for local households to ensure there is no overloading of power lines and transformers. It has also sent reminders to households on how to use electricity safely and economically.

The company is regularly checking power lines and transformer stations and back-up portable generators, upgrading medium- and low-voltage power lines, and preparing sufficient amount of equipment and supplies to promptly deal with incidents.

The province’s power sector, which has arranged for staff to be on duty 24 hours a day and to be ready for emergencies, is also raising awareness about the importance of energy savings. — VNS