The Hindu Business Line : Copters to clean power lines in Northern Grid

THE Northern Grid operators led by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) are planning to go hi-tech by deploying helicopters to clean power lines and insulators to prevent possible tripping of lines due to a combination of heavy fog and pollution in the winter months.

The flip side, however, is that such a move could come at a cost to the consumers, with PGCIL proposing to recover the cost of procuring the helicopters through its tariff to the grid constituents, which could result in higher transmission tariffs for the state electricity boards (SEBs), translating into increased tariffs for the retail consumers.

The move follows a meeting of PGCIL, utilities of the Northern Region and the CEA on January 6 to take stock of the situation following the narrow escape that the Northern Grid constituents had from a possible grid failure on December 23 last year.

"Members expressed concern over the tripping of so many lines due to heavy fog although preventive maintenance including cleaning of insulators was done before winter. It was agreed that with the increase in the size of the transmission network and its geographical spread, manual cleaning can be done only on a limited basis and helicopters can be utilised for frequent cleaning of the line insulators to remove pollutant deposits... The arrangement would be that PGCIL would procure helicopters with cost recovery through tariff," a PGCIL official said.

A committee with members from the CEA, PGCIL and Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) has been formed to examine the scheme and submit a detailed feasibility report within a month.

The grid constituents have also agreed on the need for renovation and modernisation of switchyards, substation equipment, protection equipment and transmission system on a priority basis as any such failure has the potential to cause a grid disturbance. It has also has decided that the Protection Committee of the five Regional Electricity Boards (REB) would undertake an audit of the protective system in different substations and recommend remedial measures to be implemented by the respective utility in a time-bound manner.