Grid code helps avoid power blackouts in South

HYDERABAD: Coordinated efforts by the power utilities in Andhra Pradesh for effective fault analysis, 24x7 monitoring of grid and installation of automatic disturbance control mechanisms have insulated the Southern grid from major blackouts, like total grid collapse, in the last 10 years.There has been not a single power blackout in the Southern grid since September 11, 2001 (the last grid collapse day), said Dinesh Kumar, principal secretary, Energy.While zero-blackout is mainly possible due to enhanced grid discipline along with advanced planning, adequate investments in strengthening the transmission and distribution network and upgrading of the sub-stations, the employees of power utilities too contributed significantly in maintaining stability of the Southern grid which helped supply quality power to the crore of consumers of the State, he said.During an interaction with top officials of power utilities on safety and security of power grid and its impact on reliable power supply, Dinesh Kumar opined that the Southern power grid was secure against any collapse due to efficient implementation of the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC).IEGC envisages round-the-clock monitoring, alertness, fault analysis, maintenance of the operating frequency range between 49.5 Hz and 50.2 Hz, voltage management, reactive power management, power load management, improved Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems with latest communication facilities apart from scrupulous maintenance of transmission and distribution system and effective, demand side management. Ajay Jain, CMD, APTransco, K Vijayanand, MD, APGenco, K Ranganatham, Joint MD and P Srirama Rao and other officials were present