Social networks and special groups in Uzbekistan, particularly the “Potrebitel.uz” team, are noting a sharp increase in complaints about the instability of electricity supply among the capital's residents. This was reported by Upl.uz.
Long outages and cases of expensive household appliances breaking down due to sharp voltage fluctuations have almost become a daily occurrence. An analysis of the situation shows that the city's energy infrastructure, mainly created in the last century, is operating at the limits of its capabilities.
The existing transformer substations and cable networks do not meet the demands of a modern large city. The problem is exacerbating as urban construction accelerates.
A large number of residential and commercial complexes are being built throughout Tashkent, which is putting additional pressure on outdated networks, often leading to their deterioration. Against this backdrop, experts and the public are raising the issue of imposing a temporary moratorium on new constructions.
This measure aims to provide the necessary time for a deep modernization of the city's energy system and to expand capacities. The logic of the proposal is that the pace of urban development must be aligned with the capabilities of the infrastructure.
Official comments from responsible agencies such as the capital's administration and the “Regional Electric Networks” joint-stock company are currently not uniform. While technical difficulties are acknowledged, they often emphasize the complexity of replacing equipment under conditions of long-term investments and dense urban construction.
The speed of construction work remains in conflict with global experience. For example, in the USA, any major construction project goes through an agreement phase with energy companies regarding power adequacy.
Often, the issuance of a construction permit is linked to the obligation to financially contribute to the expansion of networks. This practice helps to prevent systemic problems, such as those currently arising in Tashkent.
Tashkent faces a strategic choice: continue the pace of construction, exacerbating the energy crisis and social tension, or halt permits for new facilities and adapt the infrastructure to the city's needs. Electricity losses are directly related to the load levels of the networks.
When the nominal load is exceeded, losses increase not linearly but in a squared manner. This means, for example, that increasing the network load by 20 percent raises energy losses by 44 percent.
As a result, wires and equipment overheat, accelerating their wear and increasing the risk of accidents.
