1. Introduction
Once a community based micro-hydro village
electrification scheme has been commissioned
and starts providing electricity, nearly 90% of the
operations and maintenance can be handled by the
community members themselves. Except occasionally,
there would not be a need for higher skills to attend
to preventive maintenance. In case of major defaults,
such repairs can only be addressed by skilled persons
who may have to come from far. This is costly, and may
take longer time, a time that the community electricity
consumers cannot afford. Attending to operations and
preventive maintenance on time by assigned persons
from within the community (consumers) can reduce
such occasions so that electricity can be supplied
smoothly and economically.
Operators should always follow the manufacture’s guidelines. In case of any variation, they should get
advice from suitable persons without delay. Maintenance of a log with daily records is important for
the operators. Regular maintenance requires observing for changes and taking remedial action on all
the civil constructions, electromechanical equipment and distribution lines at least once a week. This
should be done more frequently during rainy and windy periods. Regular preventive maintenance should
be attended to on a pre-determined schedule (as recommended by the manufacturers/developers). It is
important to maintain a footpath by the side of the components of village electrification scheme. This
helps to access the different components, and to identify and attend to faults conveniently.
There are many aspects to the proper operation and maintenance of community based micro-hydro
village electrification schemes. All necessary details cannot be given in a small manual like this. This
manual is designed to address the most common issues faced in the past. As different schemes are
designed by different designers, users of this manual may have to adapt what is mentioned in this
manual to their respective settings.
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