Kollam: Exemptions to power generators raises eyebrows
Experts see threat to those working in distribution due to lack of inspections.
Kollam: An extraordinary gazette notification exempting private power generation units including renewable energy sources below 10 kVA from getting safety clearance of the electrical inspectorate has raised many an eyebrow.
This move will adversely affect the security of those working in the distribution, say experts. As per the notification, power generation units including diesel power generators to solar power units below 10kVA does not require the clearance, which will subsequently reduce the government’s income collected as inspection charges.
Apart from this, these units without periodical inspection also fail to ensure safety that the power generated is not crossed over the KSEB distribution networks in case of failure of substandard inverters and switchgear used. The users can upgrade to multiple power units less than 10 kVA to achieve their desired target power without undergoing inspection.
“An equipment called anti-islanding relay used in such power generators prevents the power from entering the distribution network. If the power rating is increased as there is no inspection, the substandard relays used will not function thereby failing to prevent power from entering the network,” Vinu Venugopal, general manager of Service Experts, told this newspaper.
“Even if the distribution transformer is switched off for any electrical works, the power units will not turn off automatically, raising the threat to their lives of the linemen working on the power lines outside.”
On the inspection reports of such accidental deaths of linemen, the authorities even fail to trace out the exact reason behind the workers receiving electrical shock even if the transformers are turned off. By implementing this order, the death toll is likely to increase, they warn.