Kathmandu – The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has issued a 26-point reform directive aimed at addressing persistent problems in the electricity distribution system, including frequent power interruptions, poor reliability, unsafe infrastructure, rising technical and non-technical losses, unpaid electricity bills, and consumer service issues.
The directive was issued by Deputy Managing Director Rajan Dhakal, head of the Distribution and Consumer Services Directorate, on his first day in office after holding detailed discussions with chiefs of provincial and division offices. The instructions assign clear responsibilities, performance targets, and implementation deadlines.
In recent months, the power distribution network has faced repeated supply disruptions due to feeder tripping, overloaded transformers, weak jumpers and conductors, tree branches and vegetation interfering with lines, unsafe poles and distribution structures, delayed maintenance, and slow responses to consumer complaints. These issues have frequently drawn criticism on social media. The NEA acknowledged that increasing electricity demand, expansion of the distribution network without timely upgrades to aging infrastructure, inadequate routine inspections, and a reactive maintenance culture have further undermined system reliability.
To address these challenges, Dhakal has directed all offices to prioritize the continuity and reliability of electricity supply. Distribution offices have been instructed to identify high-outage feeders and areas, prepare improvement plans specifying the problems, responsible personnel, and implementation deadlines, and initiate procurement processes within 15 days under approved programs. Provincial offices must also submit short-, medium-, and long-term distribution system improvement plans within one week and prepare proposals to connect feasible 33/11 kV substations into ring systems.
Each provincial office has been instructed to designate its 20 most interruption-prone feeders as “Priority Reliability Feeders.” These feeders will undergo weekly reviews covering tripping incidents, recurring faults, load conditions, weak equipment, and progress on improvement works. Technical teams will maintain detailed records of outage causes, affected areas, and restoration times.
To deliver immediate results, the NEA will launch a two-month special campaign focused on trimming tree branches, clearing vegetation, tightening or replacing jumpers, clearing line corridors, and improving high-risk locations. Unsafe transformers, poles, distribution lines, distribution boxes, stays, and earthing systems will be identified and repaired based on risk priority, with temporary safety measures adopted until permanent solutions are completed.
Measures to address overloaded transformers and feeders will include load and phase balancing, load transfers, transformer upgrades, installation of new transformers, increasing conductor capacity, and feeder splitting. Engineers and supervisors at distribution centers will be assigned feeder-specific responsibilities, while job descriptions will be clearly defined for permanent, temporary, daily wage, and contract employees to strengthen accountability and improve workplace performance.
The directive also shifts the Authority’s maintenance approach from reactive repairs to preventive maintenance. Annual, semi-annual, and monthly maintenance schedules will be implemented for lines, feeders, transformers, and other infrastructure. Information on planned power outages must be published in advance through the NEA’s official website and social media platforms, while updates on emergency outages must be communicated immediately.
Safety has been given special priority. All operation, maintenance, testing, and service restoration activities must comply with approved safety standards. The use of portable safety caution boards and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) has been made mandatory for field work. Each distribution center and provincial office will appoint a safety focal person, conduct safety orientations for field staff, organize regular toolbox talks and knowledge-sharing sessions, and maintain records of accidents and near-miss incidents.
To reduce distribution losses, offices will identify high-loss areas, feeders, transformers, and consumer groups and set performance targets accordingly. Energy accounting by feeder and transformer will be strengthened alongside improvements in meter reading, billing, and customer records. The NEA will also intensify efforts to prevent meter bypassing, electricity theft, and abnormal consumption.
The directive further calls for stronger recovery of outstanding electricity dues from government agencies, local governments, public institutions, and street lighting systems. Distribution offices have also been instructed to accelerate disconnection of customers who fail to pay their bills within the prescribed deadlines.
In addition, the NEA will prepare a GIS-based inventory of distribution assets, promptly update records for newly constructed infrastructure, conduct regular field inspections through provincial and division offices, and submit monthly performance reports covering reliability, system losses, revenue collection, transformer failures, consumer complaints, inventory management, and safety indicators. Better coordination among project offices and directorates will also be ensured to eliminate duplication of budgets, materials, and manpower for substations, feeder bays, and other distribution infrastructure under construction.
According to NEA sources, Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha has also instructed the Authority to focus on strengthening the distribution system, improving consumer service quality, and implementing results-based management. The reforms are said to align with the policy direction of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, emphasizing measurable improvements in service delivery.
NEA officials believe that if the 26-point directive is implemented effectively, it will significantly reduce frequent power interruptions and recurring faults while creating a more resilient distribution system. The reforms are also expected to improve work culture, employee productivity, electrical safety, revenue collection, distribution reliability, consumer services, asset management, and institutional accountability.
The key challenge now, according to Authority officials, will be ensuring that the directive is implemented within the stipulated timelines rather than remaining only a policy document.
Urjasanchar
