MSMEs are working to improve electricity infrastructure in Coimbatore district

The Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny Enterprises, representing micro industries in Coimbatore city, has approached the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited to strengthen the electricity infrastructure in Coimbatore district.

Its president J. James said in a press release on Monday that due to the high concentration of small industrial units next to residential areas in the district, additional dedicated 11kV/22kV power lines should be connected to all 110kV substations to avoid power outages during the summer season. Power lines established for this purpose should not exceed a maximum length of 5 km, as currently some are up to approximately 12 km.

New, high capacity and high quality transformers should be constructed in Coimbatore city and surrounding urban panchayats and panchayats to deal with voltage fluctuations. All electrical lines and substations should be interconnected to allow for flexible wiring. In the event of a fault, the affected section should be isolated and at the same time uninterrupted power supply to the remaining areas should be ensured.

Ring Main Units (RMU) and automatic switches installed by the Power Department in the district require better maintenance. A ‘Fault Off-Call’ (FOC) service specifically to deal with night-time power outages should be introduced in all areas and circles around Coimbatore city.

There are more than one million LTCT (Low Tension Current Transformer) electricity connections in Tamil Nadu supporting more than 10 million small and micro entrepreneurs. From September 2023, the fixed charge (demand charge) has increased from ₹35 per kilowatt to ₹162 per kilowatt. On 29 July 2026, representatives of the Association submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu demanding that the fixed charge be reverted to the previous rate of ₹35 per kilowatt (for approved load up to 112 kW). Although the Chief Minister assured us that action would be taken, it has not happened yet. Demand charges for LT CT industry should be reduced for the welfare of micro and small entrepreneurs.

The conductors of existing high voltage (HT) power lines must be upgraded to ensure that the entire line can withstand the maximum current load. Furthermore, the capacity of existing distribution transformers should be increased to facilitate the distribution of higher power.

Published – 26 Oct 2026 20:29 IST