PM's 9-min blackout call: Maha load dispatch centre says home appliances should be operational to ensure grid stability

Maharashtra load dispatch centre has directed all power distribution companies in the state to urge consumersavoid switching off home appliances to ensure grid stability.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for a 9-minute blackout on April 5 at 9 pm is expected to result in a sudden drop in state demand in the range of 1,700-1,750 MW andan increase in system frequency that may impact grid stability.

Maharashtra state load dispatch centre (MSLDC) has instructed power generators and discoms to take immediate steps and be prepared with a mechanism from 8 pm to 10 pm to ensure uninterrupted supply of power and to maintain grid stability.

State government-owned Mahavitaran is the largest power distributor in Maharashtra covering some parts of the megapolis and the rest of the state, while BEST is supplying power in the island city and Adani Energy and Tata Power supply electricity in suburban Mumbai.

Mahavitaran has also appointed Torrent Power and RPG Group's CESC as input-based franchisees for three circles in the state to recover electricity bills from customers in these areas.

These discoms have issued advisories to its customers through various social media platforms appealing their customers to only switch off residential lights and keep all other electrical appliances operational during the 9-minute blackout to ensure grid stability.

"If consumers choose to switch off their lights, then in the interest of maintaining grid balance, consumers are advised to keep on appliances like fans, ACs, refrigerators. Main switches and common lights of residential apartments or housing societies should not be switched off.All the capacitors at consumer end should be kept off," Tata Power said in its advisory.

Mahadiscom, in its appeal to customers, has said, "The electricity grid is robust and stable to handle this variation in demand. All electrical appliances can remain operational during this period. Do not switch off from the main switch."