EASTERN REGIONAL LOAD DESPATCH CENTRE Vs. CHAIRMAN CUM MANAGING DIRECTOR, ODISHA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LIMITED AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner, Eastern Regional Load Despatch Centre (ERLDC), has filed the present petition seeking direction to Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) to carry out audit of the protection system at its sub -stations so that corrective measures can be taken in Odisha transmission system. The petitioner has made the following prayers:

(2.) THE petitioner has submitted that 400 kV Meramundali sub -station is one of the important gateways for import of power by Odisha as well as export of power to Southern Region through HVDC back -to -back at Gajuwaka. This sub -station also functions as a pooling point for the generating stations at Talcher STPP, IPPs at GMR and JITPL and a number of CPPs in the State of Odisha.

(3.) THE petitioner has submitted that the outage at Meramundali sub -station reduces ATC of Eastern Region -Southern Region and the reliability of supply to both OPTCL and Southern Region. The forced outage/trippings of multiple transmission elements at 400 kV Meramundali sub -station and 220 kV sub -station at Jeynagar and Theruvali on numerous occasions resulted in temporary removal of complete sub -station from service. These events were a rare contingency as per transmission planning criteria. Such contingency always causes unforeseen variation in line flows and deterioration of grid parameters such as frequency and voltage, necessitating generation re -dispatch and/or unplanned load regulation.