Chandigarh Power Distribution (CPDL), the private firm managing the Union Territory’s power supply, announced plans to invest Rs 956 crore over the next five years to revamp the city’s ageing electricity infrastructure.

In a statement, CPDL revealed that more than half of Chandigarh’s power distribution network has exceeded its shelf life, leading to frequent outages and system inefficiencies. To enhance operational and financial efficiency, CPDL has proposed a tariff revision while outlining its capital expenditure (capex) plan to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). The investment will fund the installation of new power transformers, underground cables, and the replacement of outdated equipment. 

The firm also plans to set up dedicated customer care centres, deploy smart meters, replace obsolete meters, implement advanced safety protocols, and introduce digitisation and automation across the system. Additionally, CPDL has launched a citywide KYC update drive to ensure consumers receive real-time updates on outages, billing, and services via SMS and email.