UP Power Corp fined for overdrawing from Northern Grid

Lucknow, May 3 (UNI) Power situation in Uttar Pradesh has worsered with the demand touching record level of 7,500 MW, even as the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) was penalised for violating 'grid discipline' by overdrawing from Northern Grid.

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) imposed a fine of Rs 15 lakh on UPPCL and Rs 1.5 lakh on its chairman for overdrawing power from Northern Grid, which has officially been described as 'very unstable' due to excessive load.

CERC censured UPPCL on a petition of Northern Region Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC), official sources said here today.

It is well known that during the last month, the Northern Grid responsible for providing power to UP, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal and Jammu and Kashmir, was vulnerable with its frequency hovering around 48 Hz, the threshold frequency below which it could collapse anytime.

UPPCL, which is normally authorised to import 2,300 Mw power from the Central Sector -- owing to excessive demand in summers, was withdrawing in excess of 600 Mw, although on higher rates, which was strongly opposed to by NRLDC.

Although, states linked to Northern Grid tend to overdraw, but given the demand of UP, the state's share is hefty as compared to others.

UP power situation has turned worse as the demand has already touched record level during peak hours and the gap between demand and supply widening with each passing day. Massive power cuts have been imposed across the state.

Only yesterday, UPPCL imported 3,300 MW power from Central Sector due to burgeoning demand, while massive power rostering had to be put into place to save the grid.

Following two state government's Obra thermal power units being shut, the generation in UP was pegged at a mere 1,700 Mw and even after imports, the shortfall of 2,500 MW was compensated by emergency rostering all over the state.

The power supply to industries was stopped in the night and most rural areas were in 'dark'.

Meanwhile, the union power ministry has convened a meeting of all the chief secretaries and power secretaries of Northern states to discuss the grim situation.

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