Fears of Electricity Grid Failure During PM Modi’s Lamp Lighting Exercise Misplaced: Power Ministry

While social media is abuzz with tweets regarding the loss of appliances due to fluctuations which can be caused by switching off of lights during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lamp lighting exercise, the Ministry of Power has dismissed concerns about electricity grid failure. The Prime Minister has asked all citizens of the country to voluntarily switch off lights at 9 PM IST on 5 April of 9 minutes.

“These 9 minutes, at 9 PM on the 5th will bring our nation closer and strengthen the battle against COVID-19,” says PM Modi. However, soon after PM Modi’s announcement regarding this exercise, several people raised concerns about electricity grid failure due to fluctuations.

“People who know electricity grid functioning are very worried. Those hundreds of production units feeding the countrywide grid can't close down to the whim of PM and imagine entire power consumption is closed for 9 minutes. Result ? Grid failure,” tweeted Pradyut Bordoloi, Lok Sabha MP, Assam.

“A lot of people are saying "but we turn off our lights in the day" and "we turn off our lights at night". They're right, but you don't all turn them off together at a fixed time and then turn them back on at a fixed,” tweeted Vishal Dadlani.

The Ministry of Power, nevertheless, has dismissed all fears pertaining to electricity grid failure. “Union Ministry of Power in a statement here today has said that some apprehensions have been expressed that this may cause instability in the grid and fluctuation in voltage which may harm the electrical appliances.  Dispelling these apprehensions, Ministry of Power has said that they are misplaced,” says a PIB release.

The Ministry has emphasized that Indian electricity grid is robust and stable and adequate arrangements and protocols are in place to handle the variation in demand.

“The appeal of the Prime Minister is to simply switch off the lights in their homes from 9 pm to 9:09 pm on the 5th of April. There is no call to switch off either street lights or appliances like Computers, TVs, Fans, Refrigerators and ACs in the homes. Only lights should be switched off. 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 PM is to just switch off lights in residences. All local bodies have been advised to keep the street lights on for public safety,” adds the statement from the Ministry of Power.