New rule may reduce Delhi power cuts

Delhi residents can hope for some respite from power cuts from next month.

Delhi residents can hope for some respite from power cuts from next month.

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A new rule, which will make North Indian states pay dearly for drawing more than their share of power from the northern grid, is going to be effective from May 1.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission rules will double the tariff charged to states for overdrawing power. “It will be a great commercial deterrent especially for states which are habitual offenders,” said V.K. Aggarwal, General Manager, Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre, which manages the Northern Grid.

It will be illegal to draw power if the grid’s frequency falls below 49.5 Hz. The normal frequency is 50 Hz.

For Delhiites, it means one of the major reasons for frequent power cuts in summer — relays tripping due to low frequency in the Northern grid caused by overdrawal by other states — should be reigned in. Currently states do not pay any penalty for overdrawing.

Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana are the major overdrawing states.