9pm lights-out: How power system will be managed during light-a-candle event

Shortly after PM Modi's announcement of the 9-minutes light-out at 9:00 pm on Sunday, reports had started pouring in about the feasibility of this exercise. There were fears that the entire electrical grid of the country could collapse if there is a sudden drop and then a quick surge of power.

The government has now come out with an elaborate plan to manage the dramatic changes in electricity and its impact on the grid. Following is the broad plan of action as stated by the government.

1. Electrical appliances such as AC, fans, TVs, refrigerators are not supposed to be switched off and only household lights are to be switched off from 9 pm to 9.09 pm on Sunday.
2. Lights in all essential services, including hospitals, police stations and manufacturing facilities as well as street lights are not to be switched off.

These steps will ensure there is not a massive sudden drop in electricity demand during the 9-minute lights-out.

Power System Operations Corp Ltd, the government agency tasked with managing the grid, has mapped out all of the country's lighting load and has estimated it be to be around 12-13 gigawatts. The total consumption of electricity in India is 125-126 gigawatts(WB).

During the 9-minutes lights-out the 12-13 GW would decrease for 2-4 minutes as people switch off lights and then would be would increase back again after 9 minutes when lights are turned back on. This sharp reduction in load and recovery is unprecedented, according to the agency.