NDMC 'Smart Grid' project to improve power distribution

NEW DELHI, August 30: The North Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is coming up with a Rs 500-crore "Smart Grid" project aimed at reducing losses through better power distribution and checking thefts and faults in transmission. "We are coming up with a Smart Grid project to improve power distribution in areas under NDMC's jurisdiction. "The project, a part of the smart city initiative, will enable us to accurately judge power requirements of each locality, cut down on outages and sell off the surplus," a senior NDMC official said. The Union Power Ministry has, in-principle, approved the project and the Council gave nod to it in a meeting last week. "The project with an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore has been divided into three phases - replacing old equipment and cables, installing smart metres in households and institutions under NDMC jurisdiction, and developing a software to improve the efficiency of electricity distribution," the official said. "We will rope in consultants for the technology development. A software will be developed to work out the future load requirement in every area accurately. "If there is deficiency of electricity in a particular area, we will be able to schedule the distribution of power there in advance,"he added. At present, the civic body meets a peak demand of 380 MW of electricity during summers but in winters, it comes down to 90 MW. "So, during winters when less electricity is required, we will sell off the surplus electricity beforehand as the software will help us to give accurate figures regarding consumption and demand," said the official. The smart grid system will also help predict voltage interruption. "Though the first phase works, including the overhaul of old cables, transformers and other equipment, are likely to cost us a big amount, it will be beneficial in the long run. The new 'smart metres' will help online bill generation and trace habitual defaulters," he added.