Lok Sabha Question No. 4195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-19
Subject: Bad Condition of Power Grid
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Pritam Gopinath Munde, Arvind Kumar Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4195

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2020

BAD CONDITION OF POWER GRID

4195. SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU: DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE: SHRI ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India's state-run power grids are in bad condition and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government  to  modernise  India's outdated electricity grid;
- (c) whether the poor operational status of India's power grids is not solely due to pricing but rampant theft, degraded equipment, and the introduction of highercost renewable power have all contributed to the situation and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Union  Government  has  take  up  this  matter  with  the  State Governments  to  find  out  the  solution  and  if  so,  the  response  of  the  State Governments in this regard?

## A N S W E R

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  POWER,  NEW  & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

( SHRI  R.K. SINGH)

(a) : No, Sir. India's Power Grid is not in a bad condition. The availability of  AC  and  HVDC  transmission  systems  of  POWERGRID  for  2019-20  (up  to  Jan, 2020)  is  99.81%  and  98.51%  against  normative  annual  Transmission  System availability  factor(NATAF)  of  98%  and  95%  respectively  specified  in  the  CERC tariff Regulation 2019.

……….2.

(b) : India has established a strong national electricity grid leading to One Nation-One  Grid-One  Frequency  and  this  has  facilitated  seamless  transfer  of power  from  resource  rich  areas  to  load  centres  without  any  transmission constraint. As on 31 st January 2020, the National Electricity Grid has Transmission lines of 4,23,001 ckm and transformation capacity in substations of  9,60,453  MVA  (voltage  level  of  220  kV  and  above).  Development  and Modernisation  of  transmission  system  is  a  continuous  and  evolving  process, based on electricity demand and generation. At present, the Ministry of Power is implementing following Central Schemes for strengthening/modernising transmission system in the country:-

- i. Comprehensive Scheme for strengthening of Transmission & Distribution in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim
- ii. North  Eastern  Region  Power  System  Improvement  Project  (NERPSIP)  for Six (6) North Eastern States (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and  Nagaland)  for  strengthening  of  the  Intra-State  Transmission  and Distribution Systems (33kV and above).
- iii. Financial assistance to UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh as part  of  Prime  Minister's  Development  Package-2015  for  improving  subtransmission and distribution grids in these UTs.
- iv. Establishing  13  nos  Renewable  Energy  Management  Centre  to  facilitate scheduling,  forecasting  and  monitoring  of  Renewable  Energy  Generators which would in turn lead to improvement in Grid Stability.

(c) & (d) : Transmission system  comprises  of Inter State and Intra-State component. Inter State Transmission System is planned by Central Transmission Utility, while Intra State Transmission System is planned by State Transmission  Utility.  Performance  of  Inter  State  Transmission  System  is  not affected by rampant theft or degraded equipment or cost of renewable energy. Dedicated Green Energy Corridor has been planned for evacuation of Renewable Energy (RE)  Generation  from RE  rich  states.  Further,  all  necessary  safeguards have been taken for integration of  Renewable Energy in the Grid, so that  grid stability and security are not compromised. As explained in reply to part (b), the Central Government also from time to time assists the States in upgradation of their Intra-State Transmission System to ensure better performance.

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