Soon, get a message about power outages in Delhi

In a bid to keep a check unscheduled power cuts, discom Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited has submitted a plan to start a pilot project on a smart grid to help monitor the entire power infrastructure system online

In a bid to keep a check unscheduled power cuts, discom Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited has submitted a plan to start a pilot project on a smart grid to help monitor the entire power infrastructure system online.

If this project is implemented, real-time data of consumption pattern will be monitored from a control centre. (Hindustan Times)

If this project is implemented, real-time data of consumption pattern will be monitored from a control centre. Consumers can also log on to a web portal to check their consumption pattern.

The discom submitted its plan to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission.

When there is a shortage of power, a message will be sent to consumers about the duration of load-shedding.

DERC chairman Krishna Saini said the smart grid system would be able to capture power supply information online.

“This will enable the discoms to know in which zone there is a problem, what exact fault has taken place and even information on what is the actual equipment which has failed. We had a meeting with them and one discom has been asked to submit a scheme on this pilot project,” Saini said.

The move came after the government wrote to the power regulator -- under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, under which it can direct the DERC on policy matters -- to take action against power cuts.

“The government sent us a direction to penalise discoms for unscheduled power cuts beyond certain limit and consumers should be paid back. We have taken up the matter with the discoms. According to them, if they follow this method, they first need to automate the power infrastructure and upgrade to the smart grid system. If the pilot project is successful, we will implement it in all of Delhi,” Saini said.

A TPDDL official said once DERC approves the plan, the company will start installing smart meters for every consumer who use 500+ units monthly. “Slowly we will take up consumers with 200+ unit per month usage. The target is three lakh consumers in three years,” the official said.

The smart meters will integrated with the TPDDL control centre and provide the company with instant information on outages and other factors related to the quality of power, helping it provide power reliably to its consumers.