1. NARROWING OF FREQUENCY BAND – IMPLICATIONS THEREOF
A PRESENTATION BY HPSEB
Presented by : Er.Suneel Grover

2. INDEX
1. Low frequency in the Grid 2. HPSEB’s Suggested Methodology 3. CERC Regulations Impact of CERC Regulations 5. Proposed CERC Regulations 6. Factors for low Frequency 7. Likely Impact of Proposed Regulations 8. Submissions

3. LOW FREQUENCY IN THE GRID
Low Frequency in the Grid and the rampant over drawls by the constituent states threaten the security of the Grid.
During the frequency used to hover around 49.0Hz
No Restrictions on over drawls during low frequency conditions further worsen the situation.

4. LOW FREQUENCY IN THE GRID
Hon’ble CERC increased the rate for UI exchange i.e. Rs.10/kWh for over drawls when frequency was below 49.0 Hz
However many States continued heavy over drawls under low frequency conditions constantly threatening of the Grid.

5. HPSEB’s SUGGESTED METHODOLOGY
Certain percentage, about 5% or as may be decided after due deliberations for overdrawl must be fixed for constituents overdrawing when frequency starts falling below 49.5 Hz. This is necessarily required to discipline the overdrawing constituents and consequently save the system from further deterioration.
No overdraws be permitted to any constituent when the frequency equals to 49.0 Hz or goes below.
NRPC may moot an amendment in IEGC in this regard as IEGC does not mandatorily restrict the overdrawls (Clause 6.4 refers).
Flouting States after due warning be disconnected electrically by RLDC under these circumstances & their connected feeders be kept in off conditions for atleast six hours before reconnection.

6. CERC REGULATION
The Hon’ble Commission had taken cognizance of HPSEB’s submissions and the views of other constituents/ RLDCs etc. and Incorporated Clause 7 in the UI regulations effective from limiting over/under drawl under low frequency conditions as under:

7. CERC REGULATION
Clause 7:
“The over-drawl of electricity from the schedule by any beneficiary or a buyer during a time-block shall not exceed 12% of its scheduled drawl or 150 MW (whichever is lower) when frequency is below 49.5 Hz, and 3% on a daily aggregate basis for all the time blocks when the frequency is below 49.5 Hz”

8. IMPACT OF CERC REGULATION
This regulation had SIGNIFICANT IMPACT on the Grid Frequency, and it remained between 49.5 Hz and 49.2 Hz for most of the time during the year , which earlier used to hover around 49.0 Hz

9. IMPACT OF CERC REGULATION
Since the inception of Our beloved new Grid the frequency profile has considerably improved.
States/Utilities have put in considerable effort that OD is limited and is mostly done under exigent conditions.

10. IMPACT OF CERC REGULATION
This clearly indicates that the regulation had imbibed grid discipline amongst the constituents. However, some of the constituents did violate the aforesaid regulation by overdrawing power when the frequency was below 49.2 Hz which requires more stringent penalties for such overdrawls.

11. OD for month of Apr-09 when Frequency <= 49.2 Hz
Data Source: NREB

12. OD for month of Jun-09 when Frequency <= 49.2 Hz
Data Source: NREB

13. OD for month of Jul-09 when Frequency <= 49.2 Hz
Data Source: NREB

14. OD for month of Aug-09 when Frequency <= 49.2 Hz
Data Source: NREB

15. OD for month of Oct-09 when Frequency <= 49.2 Hz
Data Source: NREB

16. OD for month of Nov-09 when Frequency <= 49.2 Hz
Data Source: NREB

17. Over Drawl by States
If a few states out of the many in the country, as mentioned in the draft amendment are defaulting, the focus should be to set them right instead of changing the whole system

18. Frequency Profile for April 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

19. Frequency Profile for May 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

20. Frequency Profile for June 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

21. Frequency Profile for July 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

22. Frequency Profile for August 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

23. Frequency Profile for Sep 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

24. Frequency Profile for Oct 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

25. Frequency Profile for Nov 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

26. Frequency Profile for Dec 2009
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

27. Frequency Profile for Jan 2010
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

28. Frequency Profile for Feb 2010
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

29. Annual Frequency Profile (2009-10)
Occurrence %age
Data Source: NREB

30. A DAY WITH LOW FREQUENCY
Frequency and OD Chart of Northern Region on
370 MW at 49 Hz
Data : NRLDC

31. Frequency & OD of NR States on April 9, 2010
OD of MW
48.85Hz
Data : Real Time

32. Graph of Frequency and OD of Northern Region on 09.04.10
1060 MW at 48.9 Hz
1100 MW at 48.8 Hz
Data : Real Time

34. PROPOSED CERC REGULATION

35. PROPOSED CERC REGULATION
Prevalent UI Charges
Freq. Band (Hz)
Step (paisa/kwh)
50.30 – 49.50
12.00
49.50 – 49.20
17.00
Charge for OD for each Time block where Frequency is below 49.2 shall be 40% of the UI charge corresponding to the of below Hz
Proposed UI Charges
Freq. Band (Hz)
Step (paisa/kwh)
50.20 – 50.00
21.50
50.00 – 49.70
12.50
49.70 – 49.50
45.50
Charge for OD for each Time block where Frequency is below 49.5 shall be 100% of the UI charge corresponding to the of below 49.5 Hz

36. PROPOSED CERC REGULATION
Additional UI Charge for over drawl of electricity for each time block when Grid Frequency is below 49.5 Hz shall be equivalent to 100% of UI charge of paise/kwh corresponding to the grid frequency of below 49.5 Hz.

37. MEANING THEREBY…
The cost of energy under UI when frequency is below 49.5 Hz.
…… Paise/kWh

38. Factors Contributing to Low Frequency Conditions in the Grid

39. Mismatch of Demand – Supply of power in the country
Huge Gap between demand and supply of power
Growth in generation lagging growth in demand – Under 11th Plan MW were supposed to be added, however only about MW actually materialized uptill recently as per press reports.

40. Mismatch of Demand – Supply of power in the country
Power plants – either hydro or thermal – are Capital Intensive and take a lot of time in setting up
Inadequate Transmission and Distribution Infra-Structure

41. Impact of Proposed CERC Regulations

42. Precarious Financial Health of DISCOMs/Utilities
Most DISCOMs/Utilities are coping with system inadequacies and narrowing down of frequency band shall not yield any fructuous results, rather shall impede even the ongoing works.
It shall add to the huge financial burden and will only further deteriorate the financial health of the already sick DISCOMS/Utilities.
Ongoing works related to capacity addition & system strengthening of state utilities shall be hampered & shall have Negative Impact on the existing Grid conditions .

43. Freq, UI Comparison with Market & Exchange Rate (2002 - Till Date)
40% Scharge
Data Source: NREB

44. Most Likely Impact of Proposed CERC Regulations
DISCOMs/Utilities will have no option but to increase tariff across all categories of consumers however the highest rate that can be charged will be decided by SERC
… forcing utilities to resort to power cuts.
Contd…

45. Most Likely Impact of Proposed CERC Regulations
This narrowing of Frequency band and increase in surcharge will in the end make power a commodity that will be out of reach for the common man of our nation.

46. Most Likely Impact of Proposed CERC Regulations
In times when the country is recovering from recession, an increase in cost of power – the prime mover of growth - will severely hamper the process of recovery as industrial units will be hard hit by frequent power cuts due to System constraints.

47. SUBMISSIONS
Since low frequency in the Grid is mainly due to wide mismatch of demand & supply, due to delayed commissioning of power projects for one reason or another. In this activity DISCOMs/Utilities are not at all associated and as such there is not much that DISCOMs/Utilities to improve the Grid frequency.
Contd…

48. SUBMISSIONS
In essence the Utilities/ Agencies entrusted with this job of capacity addition should be held responsible and penalised for creating such conditions in the Grid.
Contd…

49. SUBMISSIONS
Therefore it is submitted that for a period of one year or till such time adequate generation capacity is available following may please be considered:
The prevalent frequency bands should not be squeezed
To restrict over drawl the additional surcharge on Over drawl when Frequency is below 49.2 should be increased from 40% to 100%
Contd…

50. SUBMISSIONS
For better Load Management especially when the frequency goes down below 49.2 Hz, Automatic Load Shedding schemes can be put in place.

51. SUBMISSIONS
20000 MW capacity addition is expected by 2012, when this capacity addition will enhance the frequency profile of the Grid. Therefore till such time the present UI bands may be allowed to continue.
The low voltage issue plaguing the Grid need also to be addressed. Therefore the funds collected through 100% Surcharge levied on over drawls at low frequencies should be utilized on systems that help in improving Grid voltages.

52. THANK YOU