Electricity grid could crash due to Modi's '9pm light request': Tharoor

Maharashtra's power minister warned of the possibility of multi-state power failure

tharoor modi pti A collage showing Shashi Tharoor (left) and PM Narendra Modi | PTI

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has continued his criticism of the request by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for people to switch off their lights at 9pm on Sunday. In a video message circulated on Friday, Modi had called on Indians to switch off lights at home for nine minutes from 9pm on Sunday and stand on their balconies with torches and lamps to show the nation's collective resolve to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Soon after Modi's video message was delivered, Tharoor referred to Modi's focus on the 'number 9' and criticised him for ignoring the economic issues associated with the ongoing lockdown to prevent coronavirus.

On Saturday, Tharoor tweeted that people simultaneously switching off their lights at 9pm and switching them back again nine minutes later "could cause the electricity grid to crash". Tharoor tweeted, "An unprecedented drop in electricity demand at 9pm Sunday &an immediate surge at 9.09pm could cause the electrical grid to crash. So Electricity Boards are contemplating load shedding from 8 pm & staggered return to normal after 9.09pm. One more thing the PM didn’t think about!"

Tharoor is not the only one warning of a possible impact on the electricity grid due to Modi's '9pm request'. Tharoor attached a letter from the UP State Load Despatch Centre, a unit of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, which noted "in case of switching off lighting load in Uttar Pradesh (while whole country would also be doing the same activity), approximately 3,000MW sharp load reduction phenomenon may occur in state in a very little duration of time".

The letter noted that such a reduction "may also cause high voltage surge in the UP power grid..." and asked that all reactors be kept in service and all capacitor banks be kept out of service. The letter added that load shedding in a staggered manner be done from 8pm to 9pm in the UP Power Control Area. Power stations and hydro-electric stations will also be instructed to reduce their generation during the period.

'12-16 hours needed for restoration'

On Friday, Maharashtra Power Minister Nitin Raut said Modi's request could affect the power grid, particularly as power demand has declined due to the lockdown.

“At present, Maharashtra’s power demand has come down to 13,000MW from 23,000MW. Industrial load is zero. Only emergency and domestic demand is being served. In case of sudden drop in demand, as will happen if people switch off the lights at a single moment, power stations may go on high frequency. It could result in feeders tripping in the grid," Raut was quoted as saying in a video message by The Hindu.

Raut warned a power failure in Maharashtra, which has huge demand, could lead to multi-state grid failure and disrupt power supply across the country. Raut noted that if such a failure occurred, it would take 12 to 16 hours to restore power supply. Raut appealed to people to keep their lights on while lighting lamps and torches.

In the video message, Raut warned a power failure would affect emergency services.