PSPCL braces for switch off today

Manish Sirhindi | TNN | Updated: Apr 5, 2020, 15:38 IST

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PATIALA: To ensure reliable and secure grid operations during the lighting load switch off on April 5, following a call given by Prime Minister Narender Modi, Power System Operation Corporation Limited (PSOCL) has issued an advisory for reliable and secure system operation. In line with the national plan chalked out by PSOCL, even Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has taken steps to ensure that there is no power failure in the state.
PSOCL is expecting that during switch off, the power load across the nation will fall by 12,879 MW. To handle the reduction in power demand that will occur in two to four minutes and recover after nine minutes, it has decided to reduce generation at thermal Inter State Generating Stations (ISGS) to a near technical minimum level of 60% by 20:55 and simultaneously increase the hydro generation to maintain the load generation balance.
On April 5 evening, during the peak hours from 6.10pm to 8pm, the hydro generation will be reduced and conserved for providing flexibility during the switch off. During this time, thermal and gas generation shall be scheduled in a manner so as to manage the peak demand, says PSOCL.
PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director Baldev Singh Sran said the state power corporation has requested all domestic consumers to switch off only residential lights and keep other domestic gadgets on so that the load-demand balance at the grid can be maintained. At present, only hydel plants are running in Punjab and their response is much faster than of thermals power plants.
Sran said PSPCL has sufficient sources to handle the dip and regain of demand through Ranjit Sagar Dam and other hydro plants. He added that local bodies have been advised to keep streetlights on so as to avoid any law and order problems.
The power generation companies have been advised to keep the hydro units rolling at 0 to 10% of the rating and not disconnect during this period. The gas-powered station will be ramped down to the minimum level.
During the actual event when lakhs of household in the country are expected to switch off lights, ramping up of thermal machines will be carried out from 9.05pm while hydro generation shall be ramped from 21.09pm.