NEW DELHI: Helicopters may now be used for cleaning of the power line insulators on which pollutants deposit. A committee with members from the Central Electricity Authority, the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) and the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited has been formed to examine this scheme and submit a detailed feasibility report within a month.

The issue was raised at a meeting convened by the Chairman and Managing Director of Powergrid, R. P. Singh, here this past weekend. Under the arrangement, Powergrid would procure helicopters with cost recovery through tariff, and utilities needing the same for insulator washing would be able to hire them. Further, the helicopters would also be used for construction work in difficult terrain.

It was suggested at the meeting that in view of the increase in the size of network and geographical spread and limitation in manual cleaning, helicopters should be used for frequent cleaning of the line insulators on which pollutants deposit. Use of helicopters would also minimise transmission line shutdown duration and the consequent interruption to consumers.

Another suggestion pertained to use of de-mineralised water available from thermal power stations located in the Northern Region for cleaning purposes. Some members also raised their concern at the tripping of so many lines due to heavy fog despite preventive maintenance such as cleaning of insulators having been done before winter.

During the meeting, attended by senior officials of all the power utilities of Northern Region and Central Electricity Authority, the operation of Northern Regional Grid frequency below 49.0 Hz. for the last few months was discussed and the paramount requirement of safe and secure operation of the grid, with frequency remaining within the 49.0-50.5 Hz specified by the Grid Code, was emphasised.

It was stated that the shortages would continue to remain high with inadequate addition to the generating capacity and all the States agreed to contain their drawls within schedule by maximising generation and load management and help in maintaining the frequency at safe level.

In his address, Mr Singh appreciated the efforts, cooperation and solidarity of all constituents in handling the emergency situation in the Northern Grid this past December 23when grid operators in the Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre averted a major mishap and brought about fast restoration of the system to normalcy.

It was pointed out that the fairly robust nature of the main or trunk transmission system of Northern Grid helped in minimising the adverse effect even after outage of 49 lines in 220 kV and 400 kV network and the system showed its resilience.

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