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Delhi Transco to pay fine for grid indiscipline

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 10. The Delhi Transco Limited, called Delhi Power Supply Company for few months after the privatisation of the Delhi Vidyut Board, seems to be ready to pay hefty fine to the Power Grid Corporation of India.

With just three weeks left for introduction of Availability Based Tariff in the Northern Grid from December 1, Delhi Transco Limited does not seems to have taken any measure to abide by the grid discipline. It continues to both underdraw and overdraw power, even the overall situation and availability of electricity

has been normal.

Under Availability Based Tariff (ABT), Delhi Transco would have to pay a fine of Rs. 4.20 per unit of power overdrawn from the system under normal conditions. It would again be imposed a hefty penalty if it does not draw electricity as scheduled.

Officials said, from December 1, the Delhi Transco Limited would have to give a 15-minute schedule of requirement of power for 24-hours a day in advance. Top Northern Grid officials said Delhi Transco has not made any preparations for providing the same and no training has been given to its employees.

``It is continuing with its habit of withdrawing power from the grid at will. We have to fight their officials on a daily basis to ensure that nothing unusual happens in the grid,'' a top grid official said.

Giving details of undisciplined behaviour of Delhi Transco, officials said on November 8, it overdrew 170 MW of power at 7 p.m. and the next morning at 9 a.m. it underdrew 54 MW. Similarly on November 5 at 7 p.m. it drew 108 MW in excess and a day earlier it underdrew 107 MW. On October 31, it overdrew 206 MW at 7 p.m.

``This at a time when power situation in the grid has been remarkably normal. Otherwise during peak summer and winter months, at times it draws 500 MW in excess than its permissible quota,'' officials said. On a rainy day, underdrawal of power is to the tune of 1,000 MW. "All this is done without informing us as a result of which we have to do fire-fighting operations in the control room,'' they said.

From December 1 when ABT comes into force, grid indiscipline would cost Delhi Transco dear. "It would have to pay in crores if they continue with the existing practice,'' officials said. Twenty electronic meters have been installed at various interconnection points of the Capital so that ABT could be enforced, they said.

Referring to introduction of ABT in the Western Grid from July 1, officials said Madhya Pradesh now sticks to grid discipline as in the first month itself it had to pay Rs. 2.5 crores because of overdrawal of power which resulted in collapse of entire grid.

Jammu and Kashmir, which is another undisciplined member of Northern Grid has improved a lot in the past few months but Delhi Transco continues to remain a headache for the Power Grid officials. Other members of Northern Grid are Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttaranchal.

The main objective behind introduction of ABT was to ensure quality power supply to consumers and prevent grid disturbances. With this frequency too would improve, they added.

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