Loopholes in power grids to be plugged

Audit to find out reasons behind unprecedented outage

The government will conduct an independent third-party audit of the protection systems in the power transmission grids in a month, with a view to identify and plug loopholes that led to the power crises that blacked out nearly 22 states in Northern and Eastern parts of the country.

A unanimous resolution to this effect was adopted by the Centre and the states at a meeting of state principal secretaries in charge of power here on Monday.

“Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) would fund and carry out the audit in the first instance while the regional power committees would monitor the entire exercise,” Power Minister M Veerappa Moily said after the meeting convened by his ministry.

“We have asked the states to find out the area (of essential services), so that we can provide necessary support like scientific know-how (for setting up a special transmission network),” Moily said.

At the meeting, all the states resolved to adhere to the Indian Electricity Grid Code and take all requisite measures for its effective enforcement. It was agreed that all instructions of National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) and National Regional Load Dispatch centre NRLDC will be implemented “immediately” by State Load Dispatch Centres “without waiting for further instructions from any other authority”.

The states also resolved to take all necessary steps for strengthening and upgrading of their load dispatch centres and training of system operators.  “Appropriate compensation structure, including certification linked incentive scheme must be designed to attract and retain best talent in the field of system operations,” the states agreed.