A circular network of power transmission and distribution system with a capacity to meet the demand up to 8,500 MW from the present 2,400 MW in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) area is expected to be fully operational in the next four months.
The power utilities of Telangana are developing the network, likely to be completed by March-end next, called island mode of power supply with an investment of over Rs.2,000 crore with an eye on the increasing demand for energy from the expected spurt in investments and industrial growth besides further expansion of the city. Supply of power without cuts from November last year and reduced outages in the city in spite of periodical maintenance works on the transmission lines is being attributed to such a system.
The island mode of operation relates to supply of power from all sides by developing a circular network of transmission so that a city remains unaffected from interruptions in the national or regional grid.
In the event of failure of grid, the area earmarked for the island mode of power supply would get energy independently from generating stations bypassing the grid. “The circular system of transmission is already operational and it is being strengthened further by adding some more sub-stations in the next few months,” Chairman and Managing Director of Transmission Corporation of Telangana Ltd (TS-Transco) D. Prabhakar Rao told The Hindu .
A ring of sub-stations is formed in the system to ensure interruption-free supply by drawing power from different sources, even in case of main grid failure, he stated.
He explained that 400 KV transmission lines were laid around the city for 78 km and an amount of Rs.1,920 crore was being spent on setting up sub-stations alone to develop the island mode of power supply network. The infrastructure had been developed to meet the projected growth in demand at least for a decade, he stated.
The circular network had been connected to transmission lines from Ramagundam, Kothagudem, Srisailam and Bhupalapalli generating stations to minimise outages except for shutdowns arising out of maintenance/repairs on transmission lines, Mr. Prabhakar Rao stated.
