New Delhi: In the midst of acute power crunch in northern states including Delhi, power regulator CERC on Tuesday cracked the whip and penalised the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd for excess drawal of electricity that put the entire regional grid into jeopardy.
Acting on a complaint by Northern Region Load Dispatch Centre, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on UPPCL for continuous overdrawals and warned other states of strict action in case of violation of grid code norms by any utility.
The move follows the warning by CERC on April 27 to northern states against overdrawing electricity from the grid, especially at low frequency of less than 49 hertz, which endangers the entire regional transmission network.
"The state has been continuously overdrawing from the grid despite repeated warnings. We are left with no option. We have decided to impose a token fine of Rs one lakh on UPPCL," CERC Chairman A K Basu said while giving the judgement.
The fine is for repeated violation of grid code norms by UPPCL during April 27-30, he said, adding CERC Member A H Jung has been appointed as the adjudicating officer to look into other complaints against the utility for the month of April.
A fine of Rs 15 lakh could be imposed on UPPCL under the Electricity Act depending on the adjudicating officers report.
NRLDC, which manages the northern grid had filed the petition on May 1 this year, after noticing heavy overdrawals by UPPCL despite a CERC warning on April 27.
Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had also blamed UP for acute power shortages in the national capital, although the Mulayam Singh government has accused the Centre of "biased attitude" against the state.
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