Power grid saw 1,200 MW drop in Sunday’s lights-out

BENGALURU: There was a “reduction of 1200MW on the state grid during the switch-off of domestic lights for nine minutes from 9 pm on Sunday,” additional chief secretary, energy department, Mahendra Jain told TNIE.

“It was managed well as we had planned for it. Calibrating of hydel power; starting three-phase supply to rural feeders earlier than normal; keeping thermal power at bar and other technical interventions worked for us,” he explained.

The drop was much lower than what the energy department had anticipated and calculated — a 700-800MW drop in power usage, against consumption of 7000MW — which left the energy department surprised.