Powergrid not aware of its own powers -- CERC

Powergrid not aware of its own powers -- CERC
SANTANU GHOSH

NEW DELHI, JAN 17: In a fairly damning indictment of Powergrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has said that Powergrid doesn't even appear to understand its own role and powers clearly. And that this, above all, jeopardised the safe operations and security of the electricity grid.

CERC's observations come as part of its order issued today, on the Northern Grid collapse of January 2. The order follows a public hearing called for by the CERC on January 15.

In its order, CERC says "it appears that there is insufficient understanding within Powergrid Corporation of India Limited which has been notified as the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) of its statutory role and functions".

The observations of CERC was in response to the observations made by Bhanu Bhushan, Director (O), Powergrid who had stated that CTU has no role in ensuring enforcement of directions issued by Regional Load Despatch Centre (RLDC) in integrated operation of regional grid -- the RLDC had given instructions to various power stations to cut production, but these were not complied with, and eventually led to the grid collapse.

The order has been submitted by CERC on Wednesday to the Power Ministry and all the other bodies involved in the issue.

CERC has also stated that negligence in maintenance by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited led to the failure of the line and the subsequent events culminating in the collapse of the grid. CERC has issued a stern warning to UPPCL stating that a repeat of the above negligence would be penalised heavily in the future.

RLDC had claimed that it instructed UPSLDC to back down Anpara power station owned by UP Generating Corporation. However, UPPCL has denied receipt of communication by Anpara or the SLDC. In an attempt to have evidence of such orders in the future, the Commission has directed the CTU to immediately install tape recorders with timer facilities in the control rooms of the RLDCs.

CERC has also observed that during the period of crisis, Singrauli and Rihand STPS of NTPC had been generating excess of the schedule given to them by RLDC.

The CERC has also held Powergrid responsible for not ensuring that CERC's previous orders for ensuring grid discipline were enforced. Thus, for instance, all large power plants are meant to have `free governors' -- which cut off power supplies from them when the grid frequency rises to alarm levels -- but almost none of them have these. `The free governor actions should have been restored as indicated in the grid code over the last one year since the Grid Code was issued.' Yet, Powergrid clearly did nothing to ensure this. The CERC has directed Powergrid and the concerned generators to restore the operation of free governors in 400 MW stations within one month. Plants between 200 and 500 MW should instal/restore their free governors within 3 months.

In addition, the CERC has also ruled that all SEBs should re-connect or repair their automatic under-frequency relays -- these relays cut off the power supply to areas when excess drawals cause the grid frequency to fall to alarm levels. Once again, Powergrid should have ensured this was done, but didn't, the CERC order says. Powergrid and the SEBs have been given upto 2 months to restore the relays and to report progress to the CERC.

CERC has asked the government to ensure that Powergrid begins to take its job as the regulator of the grid in all seriousness.