With heatwave conditions intensifying across Odisha, rising humidity and excessive use of cooling appliances are putting immense pressure on the state’s power infrastructure, leading to low-voltage issues, transformer failures and fire incidents in several areas.

As temperatures continue to hover above 40 degrees Celsius in Bhubaneswar and many other urban centres, people are increasingly relying on fans, coolers and air-conditioners to cope with the sweltering weather. However, the sharp rise in electricity consumption is overloading transformers and disrupting power supply in many localities.

Energy experts said a ceiling fan generally consumes around 50 to 70 watts of electricity, while air coolers require nearly 150 to 200 watts. However, with coolers failing to provide adequate relief from the humid weather, many households are shifting to air-conditioners, which consume between 1,000 and 2,000 watts of electricity.

Officials said the growing use of air-conditioners has increased the load on transformers by several times compared to regular fan usage. Due to excessive load, low-voltage problems are being reported from multiple areas, particularly during peak afternoon and evening hours.

In several places, overloaded transformers have reportedly caught fire or developed technical faults, causing disruption in electricity supply. Authorities have also linked the rising number of short-circuit incidents and fire mishaps to excessive electricity consumption during the ongoing summer season.

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The scorching heat and humid conditions have severely affected normal life, with residents depending heavily on electrical appliances for relief.

Amid the surge in power demand, the government has advised people to avoid unnecessary electricity consumption and use power judiciously to reduce stress on the electricity distribution system.