South Andaman has entered a period of extended power outages as the Electricity Department announced a tentative 15-day load shedding schedule in response to a worsening generation shortfall. The announcement comes after weeks of power instability, with the department stating that the situation has reached critical levels in recent days, leaving no option but to ration electricity supply.
According to the department, the outages will be carried out in batches covering different areas across day, evening, and night hours. The schedule, effective immediately, is subject to change depending on actual generation capacity and technical constraints. The department has urged consumers across the affected regions to regulate their electricity use and conserve energy during this period.
The released schedule covers virtually every major residential, commercial, and institutional area in South Andaman. Key localities including Garacharama, Dollygunj, Old Pahargaon, ICMR Colony, Minnie Bay, Lighthouse, Phoenix Bay, Aberdeen Bazaar, Haddo, Chouldari, Wimberlygunj, Dairy Farm, and even critical establishments like GB Pant Hospital, Secretariat, Court Complex, and Raj Niwas are listed under different phases of power cuts. Many neighbourhoods will face outages during late night and early morning hours, while others will experience them in the daytime or evening slots.
Officials clarified that the schedule is tentative, meaning both duration and timing may vary depending on generation levels and technical conditions. The department emphasised that the load shedding exercise is unavoidable, given the scale of shortfall in available supply compared to demand. While power cuts have been frequent over the past months, this is the first time a detailed 15-day phased plan has been made public, indicating the severity of the current situation.
The move is expected to impact households, businesses, and institutions across the capital and surrounding areas. Markets, schools, and offices may need to adjust working hours in anticipation of outages, while residents will have to adapt to irregular supply of basic utilities such as water, which relies on pumping stations. Localities such as Phoenix Bay, Aberdeen Bazaar, Haddo Wharf, and Sri Vijaya Puram’s central zones, which host commercial hubs, government offices, and healthcare centres, are also part of the load shedding plan, raising concerns over disruptions in essential services.
The Electricity Department has urged citizens to adopt energy-saving practices such as switching off non-essential appliances, minimising air conditioner use, and avoiding high consumption during peak hours. The advisory also highlighted that conservation by consumers can reduce pressure on the system and may help minimise the extent of load shedding required.
The challenges faced in South Andaman are reflective of broader power generation issues in island territories, where reliance on diesel-based generation plants, limited renewable integration, and logistical hurdles in fuel supply often lead to critical shortages. Despite previous attempts at supplementing generation through solar and other renewable sources, capacity has not kept pace with rising demand from residential and commercial consumers.
In the absence of adequate reserves, the administration has had to depend on phased load shedding to balance supply and demand. While officials have not specified when normalcy can be expected, the department has assured that efforts are underway to manage resources more efficiently and minimise inconvenience to the public.
The announcement has drawn attention to the need for long-term solutions to the islands’ chronic power supply issues. Experts have repeatedly flagged the requirement for diversifying generation sources, improving grid management, and investing in renewable capacity to reduce dependency on diesel generation, which remains costly and environmentally challenging.
For now, the 15-day load shedding schedule marks a period of adjustment for residents and businesses of South Andaman. With the department openly acknowledging the criticality of the situation, the next two weeks will test the resilience of both the power system and the daily lives of those dependent on it. The outcome will largely depend on how efficiently the available capacity is managed and how effectively citizens adapt to conservation measures.
