In a critical alert, the Grid Controller of India Limited (GRID-India), under the Ministry of Power, has warned Southern states—including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana—about the dangers of excessive power overdrawal, which threatens the stability of the national electricity grid.
On April 21, the all-India grid frequency plummeted to 49.42 Hz, falling below the safe operational band of 49.90–50.05 Hz for nearly six hours. This prolonged low-frequency condition triggered the Automatic Under Frequency Load Shedding (AUFLS) mechanism, a safeguard designed to prevent widespread grid failures. GRID-India emphasized that any significant generation loss during such periods could lead to cascading system disturbances and potential blackouts.
The overdrawal issue is particularly pronounced during the evening peak hours, from 6 PM to 12 AM, when power demand surges. For instance, Tamil Nadu recorded a peak overdraw of 602 MW between 6–7 PM on April 21. Similarly, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana reported overdrawals ranging from 295 MW to 492 MW during critical evening hours. Experts attribute this overdrawal to a combination of factors, including rising electricity demand, increased reliance on renewable energy sources like solar and wind, and limited generation capacity during non-solar hours. The imbalance between power supply and demand during these periods exacerbates the risk of grid instability.
In response, GRID-India has urged state Load Despatch Centres (SLDCs) to implement corrective measures, such as enhancing grid defence mechanisms, improving demand forecasting, and ensuring the readiness of Special Protection Schemes and Automatic Demand Management Schemes. The Southern Regional Power Committee’s Operation Coordination Committee is scheduled to discuss these concerns in an upcoming meeting on May 9. As the summer months approach, characterized by higher temperatures and increased electricity consumption, the urgency to address grid stability becomes paramount. Stakeholders across the Southern states must collaborate to ensure a balanced load-generation equation, thereby safeguarding the reliability of the power grid and preventing potential blackouts.
