New Delhi States use all means to defy the grid code for drawing power — they openly flout the code, default on payment of unscheduled interchange (UI) charges meant to check overdrawing when the grid frequency is low and even resort to litigation. However, the recent synchronised failure of three of the country’s power grids that left half the country without power for hours might come as an eye-opener, analysts reckon.

Tamil Nadu, for instance, has obtained a stay from the Madras High Court on enforcement of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s revised (tightened) grid code on the state. With the recent outages, the state might be forced to review its stand, source say. In April this year, the CERC narrowed the permissible frequency band from 49.5-50.2 Hz to 49.7-50.2 Hz to ensure grid safety.