Lights off, electricity on: Power Ministry releases FAQs on PM Modi's 9 pm 9 minutes call

The Power Ministry has compiled a list of FAQs on PM Modi's 9 PM lights off call so you can show solidarity in the fight against coronavirus without any hesitation.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday urged people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat the coronavirus. (Photo: PTI)

A 9-minute lights-out as called for PM Modi by most of the households on Sunday evening can potentially collapse the grid due to sudden drop and then a quick surge after the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday urged people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat the coronavirus.

There have been concerns that the blackout may impact the electricity grid due sudden drop in peak power demand, which was already down 25 per cent at 125.81 GW on April 2 compared to a year ago.

But to manage the dramatic changes in electricity and its impact on the grid, the government has drawn an elaborate plan.

The Power Ministry has even compiled a list of FAQs so you can show solidarity in the fight against coronavirus without any hesitation.

Question 1: Are only domestic lights to be switched off or are street lights, common area lighting, essential services etc lights also to be switched off between 9 - 9:09 pm?

Only domestic home lights in the houses have to be put off voluntarily as appealed by our Hon'ble PM. It is again reiterated that no street lights, common area places, hospitals and other essential services have to switch off their lights.

Question 2: Are my domestic appliances safe during the said switching-off of houselights?

All your domestic appliances will be safe. There is no need to switch off fans, ACs, fridges etc. Indian Electricity Grid is well designed to handle such kind of load variation and has several inbuilt levels of control and safety mechanisms to absorb any kind of frequency changes occurring due to such load variation. Thus, all the domestic appliances will be totally safe and hence should be kept in a normal functioning mode as per the requirements.

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Question 3: Will there be adequate arrangements and protocols are in place to handle grid stability during the light-out event on April 5 at 9:00 PM to 9.09 pm?

Yes, all adequate arrangements and standard operating protocols are in place to maintain grid stability.

Question 4: Is it compulsory or voluntary to switch off lights?
Voluntary. As already said only domestic houselights have to be switched off.

Question 5: Some apprehensions have been expressed that this may cause instability in the grid and fluctuation in voltage which may harm the electrical appliances.

These apprehensions are totally misplaced. These are a normal phenomenon and the Indian Electricity Grid is well designed to handle such load variation and frequency changes as per standard operating protocols.

Question 6: Will our grid management and technology withstand the fluctuation that the light-out may cause?

The Indian electricity grid is robust and stable and employs state-of-art technology. It has in place necessary control and protective elements capable of handling such kind of fluctuations in demand at any instant of time.

Question 7: Will appliances like fan, refrigerators, ACs etc should be switched off or kept in the on mode?

All your domestic appliances will be safe. These appliances should be operated normally as per requirements by the consumers. No need at all to especially switch off at 9 pm.

Question 8: Will streetlights be switched off?
No. In fact, all States/UTs/ Local bodies have been advised to keep the street lights on for public safety.

Questions 9: Will hospitals or other emergency and important installations face light out?

No, the lights in Hospitals and all other essential services like Public Utilities, Municipal Services, Offices, Police Stations, Manufacturing Facilities, etc will remain on. The call given by Hon'ble PM is to just switch off lights in residences.

Question 10: The load of home-lightings alone is around 20% of the total load. Would a sudden disconnection of 20% load not destabilise the grid? What measures will the Ministry take?

Domestic lighting load is much less than 20 per cent. Such kind of reduction in demand can be easily managed for which standard technical operating protocols are in place.

Question 11: Will there be load shedding? If yes what will be the impact?
No load shedding is planned.