New Delhi, July 07: In view of rising instances of grid collapse due to overdrawal of power, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has asked Karnataka to isolate the areas drawing electricity more than the sanctioned load from the inter-state transmission system. "In the interest of the security and safety of the regional grid, we feel that some parts of the states indulging in overdrawals have to be isolated and supplied from state's own resources at whatever frequency they want to operate at the risk of their own machinery and equipment, but not through the inter-state transmission system," CERC said in an order.

Overdrawing of power from the grid at a low frequency leads to tripping of the transmission lines and makes the system vulnerable to grid disturbances, CERC said adding "the repeated occurrences of grid disturbances in the state of Karnataka during the previous three months have been specifically brought to our notice."

This was adversely affecting the generation of power besides causing damage to the plant and machinery installed at the generation stations in the entire region in an integrated grid as well as causing damages to the appliances used by households. The commission, however, before delivering final directions, has appointed a high-level technical committee with members from the central electricity authority and power grid corporation to consider technical aspects of the isolation of one or more parts of the state from the regional grid in details.
Bureau Report