Lok Sabha Question No. 388 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-22
Subject: Load Dispatch Control Network
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.388 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2018

## LOAD DISPATCH CONTROL NETWORK

*388.   DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to involve qualified/trained personnel  to  run/operate  the  Load  Dispatch  centres/network  across  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the planning and the effective operation of Load Dispatch centres require trained manpower, with higher outlays for compensation and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  States  oppose  construction  of  excess  capacity  as  it imposes a level of financial burden and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the Government  proposes  to develop/build intra-State transmission capacity as well and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  R. K. SINGH )

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.388 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 22.03.2018 REGARDING LOAD DISPATCH CONTROL NETWORK.

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- (a) & (b) : Load Dispatch Centres (LDCs) across the country are operated by qualified and  trained manpower.  Since  April 2011, training and certification of these operators at LDCs are being conducted in association  with  the  National  Power  Training  Institute.  There  are  basic and specialist level of certification for the system operators.
- (c) : Considering  the  highly  specialized  and  technical  nature  of functioning of LDC, the Government of India constituted a Committee on 'Manpower,  Certification  and  Incentives  for  System  Operation  and  Ring fencing Load Dispatch Centres' in 2008 which, inter-alia,  recommended a suitable compensation structure to attract and retain talent.  Further, the CERC Regulations  also  provide  for  certification  linked  incentives  to  the certified system operator at RLDCs and NLDC. At the SLDC level, similar infrastructure and processes are recommended.
- (d) : During  the  Transmission  Planning  by  the  Centre  and  the States, excess capacity is created to address the technical requirement of reliability, security and redundancy. The N-1 criterion is followed which is  a minimum  system  security  measure in  the  transmission  network  to address redundancy avoiding potential power interruptions and/or system failure.

The Inter State Transmission System is planned by the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) in consultation with Central Electricity Authority  (CEA)  based  on  generation  plan  and  long  term  power  transfer requirements.  This  transmission  system  is,  thereafter,  discussed  in  the meetings  of  Standing  Committee  and  Regional  Power  Committee  and finalized  after  consultation  with  all  the  stakeholders  including  State utilities.

For the intra-State Transmission Systems, planning is carried out by the respective State Transmission Utility (STU). However, the intra state transmission system, which have bearing on inter-state transmission system (400 kV and 220 kV voltage level) are discussed and approved by the  Standing  Committee  on  Power  System  Planning  in  its  meetings. Further, the intra state transmission system posed for multi lateral funding or Government of India funding / grant are approved by CEA.

...........2.

(e) : As  per  the  Section  39  of  the  Electricity  Act,  2003, the responsibility for development of intra-state transmission system lies with the respective STUs.  However,  to  supplement  the  efforts of State Governments, Govt. of India has approved schemes for  strengthening of intra  state  Transmission  and  Distribution  systems  in  Jammu  &  Kashmir and North-Eastern States including Sikkim. The details are:

- i. 220kV Transmission System from Alusteng (Srinagar) to Leh (via Drass,  Kargil,  Khalsti  and  Leh  Sub-station  in  Jammu  &  Kashmir (J&K) amounting to Rs. 1788 Crore.
- ii. North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP)  amounting  to  Rs.5111  Crore  through  the  budget  of Ministry of Power and the World Bank on 50:50 basis.
- iii. Comprehensive  scheme  for  strengthening  of  transmission  and distribution system in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim amounting to Rs.4754 Crore.

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