Power shortage looms in Maharashtra, state flashes SOS sign

MUMBAI: Already under severe power shortage, Maharashtra is now facing another 1,000 MW shortfall after northern states were found drawing excess electricity over the past few weeks. Now, the state has asked the Centre to intervene and discipline the member states of northern grid.

Worried about frequency and subsequent grid collapse, the state government has written to the Centre demanding immediate intervention. In the letter, the state energy secretary has stated that the other constituent regions, particularly the northern states, are not observing grid discipline and are found overdrawing power at low frequency. ���From September 1 to September 21, the northern states have overdrawn almost daily,��� the letter notes and cautions that if not stopped, the entire region faces the danger of grid collapse.

Maharashtra has been experiencing a gap of around 4,000 MW between demand and supply. Therefore, load shedding ranging from 10 to 12 hours in rural areas and 2.45 to 6.30 hours in urban areas per day is being resorted to as per the protocol approved by the regulators. However, due to overdrawal by other states, it has become difficult for Maharashtra to maintain the load shedding schedule as it is forced to make necessary arrangements to meet the situation.

This is the second instance in the past two months where the northern states have been found flouting all grid norms. In August, too, the state faced a similar situation. Then the state energy ministry toyed with the idea of removing the mandatory mechanism that maintains a strict grid discipline.

As per the norm, the frequency at which the electricity flows has to be maintained at 48.8 Hz. Any drop in it trips the supply system automatically. The supply restores only when the frequency level is back to normal.