Gurgaon: Repeated power outages over the past three days are disrupting production in industrial areas in sectors 33, 34 and 37. Manufacturers said two to three outages of about an hour each have been reported daily due to a transformer failure at the 220kV power house in Sector 33.According to the manufacturers, the sudden cuts are not only delaying deliveries but also raising concerns over damage to machinery and equipment. They said the lack of advance information from the power authorities was making it difficult to plan production cycles and safely shut down equipment.The disruption began after a transformer at the HVPNL power house in Sector 33 failed. While HVPNL manages the transmission infrastructure, DHBVN distributes power to consumers. Industrialists said the prolonged disruption reflected a lack of coordination between the two agencies.A DHBVN official denied any coordination issue between the two agencies. “We are working to fix the issue and supply will be normalised soon,” the official said.Industrialists said the outages were affecting units that depend on uninterrupted supply, forcing them to halt production midway and spend additional time restarting machines and processes.“Production comes to a halt whenever the power goes off suddenly. Restarting the machines takes time, and in some cases, there is also a risk of damage to tooling,” said Deepak Maini, chairperson of Progressive Federation of Trade and Industry (PFTI).Maini said the outages were causing production losses and affecting delivery schedules. “The biggest problem is that we are not told when the power will be cut or how long the outage will last. If industries are informed in advance, we can adjust our production schedules and secure machines before the supply is disconnected,” he said.Industrialists said the impact extended beyond the duration of the outages. They said that when the production lines stop abruptly, they can take considerably longer to stabilise after power is restored. “An outage of an hour does not necessarily mean that we lose only one hour of production. Depending on the machine and manufacturing process, restarting and bringing the line back to normal can take considerably longer,” said an industrialist from the Sector 37 belt.Another manufacturer said sudden outages were particularly disruptive for units involved in precision manufacturing and automated processes. “We need to know in advance if there is going to be a shutdown. It allows us to complete a production cycle, switch off machines properly and protect material and equipment. Sudden outages increase both downtime and the risk of damage,” he said.The uncertainty has also affected manpower planning, movement of raw materials and dispatch schedules, industry representatives said. Delays in production can affect downstream suppliers and customers, particularly for units working on fixed delivery timelines.“Industries pay their electricity bills in full and on time. There should also be accountability for ensuring reliable supply and timely communication about disruptions,” the industrialist said. He added that information sent only after a power cut or at the last moment was of little use. “By then, there is no opportunity to secure machines or manage the production process safely,” he said.Industry representatives have sought early restoration of the failed transformer and an alternative power arrangement for the affected areas until the repair is completed. They have also demanded a formal communication mechanism through which industries are informed in advance about planned or unavoidable outages and the expected duration of the shutdown.
