Line tripping hits NE power generation

GUWAHATI, June 28(AT) – Tripping of the circuits of a 400-Kv Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) power line early this morning resulted in reduced power generation in the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) and Northeastern Hydroelectric Power Corporation's (NHPC's) power plants today.

NEEPCO sources here said that the North Eastern Regional Load Despatching Centre (NERLDC) at Shillong has asked the Central sector power companies to reduce their generation to 569 MW. The power companies have the available capacity to generate 1,008 MW of power these days.

Since June 19, the NEEPCO power plants in the region have been generating around 890 MW of power with all their machines in operation. The NE states have been evacuating their share of power from the NEEPCO and they are selling over 150 MW of power during the off- peak-load hours to areas located outside the NE region.

Today, following the incident of tripping of the circuits of the 400-Kv Binaguri-Purnia power line of the PGCIL around 4 am, the NERLDC asked the NEEPCO to reduce its generation to 569 MW.

NEEPCO's Assam Gas-based Power Project at Kathalguri has been asked to generate 64 MW, against its available capacity of 200 MW, while the power company's Agartala Gas Turbine Project has been asked to generate 78 MW against its same available capacity. The Kopili Hydel Project of the power company has been asked to generate 24 MW, against the available capacity of 148 MW.

Similarly, its Doyang Hydel Project has been asked not to generate any amount of power against the plant's available capacity of 63 MW. The power company's Ranganadi Hydel Project has been asked to restrict generation within 350 MW, against its available capacity of 401 MW. Likewise, Loktak Hydel Project of the NHPC has been asked to reduce its generation to 53 MW, against the available capacity of 95 MW, sources said.

Also, due to the NE States drawal of around 570 MW, against their entitlement of 1,008 MW, NEEPCO has been compelled to reduce power generation in both its hydel and thermal plants.

NEEPCO sources said that in view of the above, if there occurs any load shedding etc, the Central sector power companies should not be blamed. As, load shedding will occur not due to non-availability of power, but due to some other reasons, sources said, adding, against its share of 465 MW of power, the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) has been drawing today 300 MW of power.

Instances are also there where it was found that the NE states used to sell their power to other areas even resorting to load shedding, they said.