CERC suggests centre the ways to prevent Grid Failures in future

Ahmedabad, 24 August 2012

In the wake of recent news about forestalling of Northern Grid Failure with timely action from UP state, CERC wrote to Union Power Ministry suggesting ways to ensure incidents of Power Grid Failures as seen on 30th and 31st July do not repeat in the future.

In its letter, CERC, representing the plight and the rights of the Indian consumers, identified some important issues which it suggested the Power Ministry to work upon to circumvent recurrence of power grid failures in the future.

Talking about the role and effectiveness of Load Shedding Relays in averting grid failures, CERC suggested the ministry to investigate why the systems didn’t work in case of grid failures on 30th and 31st July and to take necessary steps to ensure these relays are installed, maintained and monitored by concerned officials responsibly.

Criticizing the ministry’s directive to impose heavy penalties on Electricity Companies of the states that overdraw power, CERC suggested that the penalty should be recovered from the responsible officials in these Electricity Companies who failed to perform their duties responsibly rather than from the companies. The Electricity Companies are likely to pass the additional burden on to the consumers. However, penalising the staff will ensure they realise their accountability towards their jobs and work in the interest of the consumers.

In the same context, CERC suggested the ministry to direct all SERCs to sparingly use Section 142/146 of the Electricity Act that will make the Electricity Companies and their senior management team more accountable.

CERC suggested greater involvement and empowerment of the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions in maintaining the power grids in their respective states. It also advocated increased co-ordination amongst the State Load Despatch Centers (SLDCs) of various states and providing intensive training to their staff to ensure such failures do not repeat and in the event of a grid failure, the emergencies are handled efficiently.

Power Grid failures adversely affect the lives of millions of consumers and as a body known for its pioneering efforts in highlighting the plight of consumers and bringing in effective solutions; Consumer Education & Research Center has taken up the repeated grid failure issue with the central government and made few workable suggestions too. CERC will continue to follow up on this matter with the Ministry and hopes to see implementation of these suggestions and quick reforms in the direction soon.