Goa Electric Power Supply : Goans pay for Watermelon, but you will get lemons.
Low voltage increases your power consumption up to 23%, and diminishes the life of electrical equipment and appliances. Also, a huge safety hazard.
Citizens of Goa need to be awake and start demanding the quality power, for which they are paying; but in truth, they are just happy to be supplied with any power at all.
While everyone is talking about erratic cuts, power shut-owns, no one is talking about the quality of the very power which is supplied, when it is being supplied.
From 1st of April 2023, the power tariff has been increased by 5.19% for consumers; so it is utmost important to look at what we are getting, for what we are paying.
The simple equation of Power, which is taught in high school is :
Power = Voltage x Current.Lesser the voltage, less is the power delivered. If you are getting less power, it means you would have to consume more electricity, to deliver the same amount of work. It's elementary.
Which also means,inadvertently,you are forced to forced to pay more, for getting the same amount of work done. Studies have concluded that, depending on the degraded voltage, the power consumption rises to almost 23%.
While you do not need to be an electrical engineer, to observe this, you can just time, a simple electrical lift motor at peak hour and very early in the morning, when voltage is optimum.A very simple way is to gauge the speed of the ceiling fan, when it is running at different spans of time.
There are several repercussions of low voltage power supply (which is very common in Goa during peak tourist season and as well as summer :
(1) Performance Issues: Appliances and equipment will not operate optimally and will exhibit reduced performance when operated at voltages outside their rated range. This results in slower operation, diminished efficiency, and compromised functionality.
(2) Overheating: Running devices at voltages higher than their rated voltage can lead to increased heat generation. Overheating can damage internal components, reduce the lifespan of the device, and increase the risk of fire hazards. This is very common in induction motors, which are now used in a variety of domestic appliances.Though some devices have safety mechanism to shut off the equipment, like submersible pumps, but most of the household appliances do not have.
(3) Increased Energy Consumption: Appliances operated at voltages lower than their rated voltage may draw more current to compensate for the reduced voltage. This results in increased energy consumption and higher electricity bills.Things get further exacerbated when the current is also not at optimal rating.
(4) Component Damage: Every single electrical equipment used at homes currently have electronics embedded in it. Voltage fluctuations cause a lot of stress on electronic components, leading to their degradation and premature failure. A very common issue every household faces is the change of Capacitors in ceiling fans, almost every year. Its due to low voltage supply only.
(5) Safety Risks: The safety risks people are almost oblivious about of low voltage. Deviating from the rated voltage can pose a lot of safety risks, especially if it leads to equipment malfunctions, electrical shorts, or overheating. This can cause electric shocks, electrical fires. Most of the fires which occur in summer are attributed to short-circuiting; but actually it is the result of over-heating due to low voltage, and sub-optimal current supply.
(6) Voiding Warranty: As a consumer, one is supposed to operate the appliance as per the ratings of power and guidance given in the manual. Operating appliances or equipment outside their specified voltage range voids the manufacturer's warranty. Manufacturers design and test their products to operate within specific voltage limits, and using them outside these limits negates any warranty coverage.
At 0915 hrs today, when many of the commercial establishments are not yet ready for business, the voltage dips to 150 volts, from the rated 220 volts. As the voltage dips, to maintain the same level of power, more current is drawn. If the current rated supply is also low, which is a double whammy, then one can just imagine, the plight of both the consumer, as well as the appliance.
Voltmeters and Ammeters for domestic use are now very cheap and every Goan household should have one, before using equipment like lift motors, submersible pumps and any device, which is not connected to a voltage stabiliser.
While like every stuff we buy, we first do a quality check; it is utmost essential that we do a quality check of the power which is being supplied to us.
Goa Electricity Department is undoubtedly the largest public utility in Goa, as water supply is scant and highly irregular, sometimes for months together. It is about time that Goans see, what they are paying for and what they are getting.