Voltage fluctuations in Pune are leaving residents frustrated and appliances damaged. Learn how to stay protected on puneripages.in.
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
For the Desai family in Baner, the steady hum of the refrigerator had become a warning sign. Every flicker of the lights meant another reset, another pulse of anxiety. Last week, their fridge gave up—dead due to relentless voltage fluctuations. ₹40,000 lost in a blink, along with groceries, routines, and peace of mind.
They’re not alone. And honestly? I’ve been there too.
From Hadapsar to Kothrud, Hinjewadi to Camp, Pune’s unstable power supply is frying lives—one surge at a time. And while authorities say they’re “looking into it,” residents are left with rising repair bills, sleepless nights, and the constant fear that the next spark might be their TV, AC, or even worse.
Table of Contents
What Is “Bad Power”? (Let Me Break It Down)
Electricity is supposed to flow like clean, steady water in a pipe. Instead, Pune’s power feels like a wild river—rushing, drying, blasting, pausing.
- Undervoltage (Low Voltage): Like weak water pressure. Fans slow down, fridges overheat trying to run, and motors burn out from the strain.
- Overvoltage (High Voltage): Like opening a fire hydrant into your house. The blast can instantly fry delicate electronics and damage circuits.
The culprits? Overloaded transformers, rapid urban expansion, poor maintenance, and a mismatch between infrastructure and population growth.
How to Protect Yourself: The Appliance Armor Guide (Things I Actually Do)
You’re not helpless. Here’s how I try to guard my gadgets, and you can too:
Major Appliances (Fridge, AC, TV)
- Install a Voltage Stabilizer: It balances incoming power before it reaches your appliance.
Electronics (Laptop, Wi-Fi Router, Console)
- Use Surge Protectors: Affordable power strips that absorb excess voltage.
Whole-Home Options
- Mainline Voltage Regulator: If your home faces chronic instability (like mine used to), this can save you in the long run.
How to Claim Compensation from MSEDCL (Yes, You Can!)
Most people don’t know this, but you can claim compensation. Here’s what worked for me:
- Document Everything
- Ask your repair technician for a note linking the damage to a voltage spike.
- Keep all bills and receipts safe.
- Lodge a Complaint
- File it on the MSEDCL Portal.
- Don’t forget to write down the complaint number.
- Escalate If Ignored
- Contact the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF). They actually do respond if your case is well documented.
Demand Answers: Accountability Corner
We asked (and so should you):
- What has MSEDCL done to upgrade overloaded transformers in Hadapsar, Baner, and Kharadi?
- How many voltage-damage compensation claims were filed in the last year?
- What percentage were approved?
- Is Pune’s grid being modernized at the pace of its real estate boom?
No solid answers from MSEDCL yet.
According to Rahul Bhor, a local electrical engineer I spoke to, “Pune is growing vertically and horizontally. But the backbone of our grid is still stuck in the early 2000s. That’s why even a spike in demand from a few new apartments can crash the supply in an entire lane.”
Trouble Hotspots (Based on Complaints I Collected from Readers)
- Hadapsar: Frequent dips at night, especially during summer months.
- Baner: Surges during rainstorms, often affecting upper-floor flats.
- Kharadi: Transformer overload near the IT park, reported multiple times.
- Kothrud: Irregularities during peak AC usage hours.
Final Word: From One Punekar to Another
You shouldn’t have to be an electrician to survive in your own home. But knowing how to guard your devices, assert your rights, and demand infrastructure transparency can make all the difference.
The next time your fan slows down or your lights flicker, remember: this isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a civic failure. And it deserves more than silence.
Let’s speak up. Let’s help each other. And if you found this helpful, share it in your society WhatsApp group or tag @puneripages on Instagram with your power horror stories.
Stay safe, stay strong, Punekars.
— A fellow Punekar who’s had enough
For more citizen survival guides, visit puneripages.in
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