LAHORE: Punjab’s main load centres - Lahore and Faisalabad region - are being given preference for the ongoing upgrade of the system as major constraints related to power transmission and despatch to the 120kV distribution system will almost be fixed by March, next year.

The improved situation will avert overloading of the system leading to power tripping, fluctuation etc., faced by consumers in summer.

“Emergence of system constraints and their solution is considered an ongoing process, as it happens and is fixed time and again. However, during last three to four years, we have done a lot to upgrade our system for smooth feeding to the distribution system and onward supply to the consumers,” Zafar Abbas, National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) managing director, said while talking to Dawn on Wednesday.

The NTDC - a state-owned organisation - operates and maintains a huge system of power evacuation, transmission and despatch system comprising the entire network of 220kV and 500kV transmission lines and grid stations across the country, except Karachi that is handled exclusively by K-Electric. However, K-Electric’s 220kV system is connected with the NTDC’s system to receive over 600MW each summer under an agreement with the government.

On the other hand, the distribution system of 33 to 120kV grid stations and transmission lines and 11kV supply lines is operated and maintained by all 10 power distribution companies (Discos) of the country, including Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco), Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), Tribal Area Electric Supply Company (Tesco), Sukkar Electric Power Company (Sepco), Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) and Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco).

Last year in summer, the MD claimed that the NTDC’s system successfully evacuated, transmitted and dispatched a huge load of 23,500MW.

“Though we can take it to 25,000MW, we didn’t do it since we were busy in accomplishing various up-gradation jobs. This year (in summer) the maximum power demand also touched 25,000MW. And next year, it may touch 26,000MW and our system will be able to bear it,” Mr Abbas added.

Talking about brownouts reported in recent summer, he said the situation was much better in the service areas covered by the main load centres - Lahore and Faisalabad. The system constraints on the part of NTDC were removed before start of this summer. Up-gradation (addition of transformers etc) of 500kV Gatti (Faisalabad), 500kV Sheikhupura, 220kV Kala Shah Kaku and 500kV Rawat grids are among several jobs completed last year. And this gave a big relief to the public at large. However, various constraints at the 500 and 220kV NTDC’s system and the 120kV system of the Discos are being removed these days that would end before start of next summer.

The NTDC chief said at present the up-gradation works at 500kV Sahiwal (Yusufwala grid), 220kV Ghazi grid (Lahore), 220kV Nishatabad and Wandala grids (Faisalabad), 220kV Toba Tek Singh grid and other installations are under way.

Talking about tripping of the lines in winter, he said it often happens in southern load centres due to dense fog. “But we are not only washing our lines regularly but also installing RTV coated insulators at the lines to avoid moisture.”

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2019