SOUTHERN REGIONAL LOAD DESPATCH CENTRE 29 Vs. DIRECTOR (GRID OPERATION) TRANSMISSION CORPORATION OF ANDHRA PRADESH LIMITED AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition has been filed by the petitioner, Southern Regional Load Despatch Centre with the following prayers, namely: (a) Ensure Adequacy and healthiness of protection system in compliance with regulation 3 (e) of the CEA (Grid Standards) in terms of IEGC regulation 5.2(e); (b) Form their own expert group in protection audit for periodic protection audit of the entire substation of 220 kV and above on continuous basis and discuss such protection audit reports in the Protection Co -ordination sub -committee of SR; (c) Ensure different type (Principle of operation) and make of relays for Main -I and Main -II protection as well as different input for different protection schemes in a time bound manner on priority; (d) Ensure proper and periodical preventive maintenance of transmission lines including Row clearance, bush/jungle cutting etc., particularly in forest area adopting best O & M Practices; (e) Ensure dual source of supply for all the auxiliaries in substation; (f) Ensure availability of bus sectionalizer scheme in all the 200kV/230kV substation that may lead to Grid disturbance of category GD -I and above; (g) Ensure strict compliance of IEGC provision under clause 5.2 (r) in furnishing the detailed tripping report along with DR & EL printouts within 24 hrs of the occurrence of the event; and (h) Pass such further Order as this Hon'ble Commission may deem just and proper in the circumstances of the case. The petitioner has submitted that from January, 2013, at least 16 times Grid disturbance of Category GD -I were occurred in Southern Region (SR) due to delayed operation or failure to operate of concerned protection relays/scheme, i.e. improper functioning of Protection Schemes.

(2.) AS per the recommendations of Enquiry Committee report, a third party protection audit in SR was carried out and all constituents were agreed in principle for implementation of the recommendations. However, the status review reveals that many recommended items are yet to be implemented. In addition, there were Grid Disturbance (GD -I) instances due to not complying with the best O and M practices by the concerned utilities. The petitioner has filed this petition seeking directions to respondents to ensure timely implementation of recommendations of Protection Audit.

(3.) THE petitioner has enumerated details of events causing Grid disturbances as under