Transmission utility Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) expects to connect the Southern Grid with the National Grid by middle of next year, a move that would ease electricity shortage situation in the South.
A senior PGCIL official said that work is progressing on connecting the Southern and the National transmission grids. "
It would be done by the first quarter of the next financial year (2013-14)," the official told PTI.
Once connected, both the National as well as the Southern Grids would have the same frequency in terms of electricity transmission, he noted.
This would facilitate supply of power through the National Grid to the South Grid and help in bringing more electricity supply to southern states.
The country's peak power deficit -- shortfall in generation capacity when electricity consumption is maximum -- touched 8.6% of the total demand in April-June period, according to the official data.
Among the regions, south was the worst hit where deficit stood at 15.3% of the total demand.
Power Grid Corp plans to spend Rs 6,000 crore for expansion activities in the southern region.
South has 7,213 circuit kilometres (ckm) of 400 Kv High Voltage Alternating Current and 1910 ckm of 500 Kv High Voltage Direct Current transmission lines in operation.
One ckm generally refers to one kilometre of electrical transmission line.
Meanwhile, Power Grid is mulling joint ventures with state transmission companies for setting up networks within states such as Bihar and Orissa.
"We may set up intra-state transmission joint ventures with transmission companies in the states... Looking at Bihar and Orissa at this point in time," the official said.
In the current Five-Year Plan ending March 2017, Power Grid expects to see a capital expenditure of Rs 1 lakh crore and most of the required funds have already been tied up.
Power Grid plans to add about 40,000 circuit kilometres in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2012-17). At present, it has over 94,000 ckms of lines.