India’s national grid operator ‘Power System Operation Corporation Ltd (POSOCO)’ announced that it has changed its name to ‘Grid Controller of India Ltd’.

The name has been changed to reflect the critical role of grid operators in ensuring integrity, reliability, economy, resilience and sustainable operation of the Indian electricity grid.

What is the role of Grid-India?

• Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India) is a wholly owned government enterprise under the ministry of power.

• Power system operation is a mission critical function of national importance for smooth evacuation of power from generating stations and supply to the end consumers in the electricity supply value chain. 

• Power system operation involves taking care of the overall reliability, security, economy and efficiency of the power system.

• Grid-India operates the power system of the country through National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) in New Delhi and Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) at New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Shillong. 

• Grid-India has the responsibility of operating the all India synchronous grid, one of the largest and most complex in the world, ensuring reliability and security.

• It facilitates the inter-state transmission of power to utilities across India.

• The Grid-India is also designated as the nodal agency for major reforms in the power sector such as implementation and operation of Green Energy Open Access Portal, Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Mechanism, transmission pricing, short-term open access in transmission, deviation settlement mechanism, Power System Development Fund (PSDF), etc.

• Grid-India (erstwhile POSOCO) was incorporated in March 2009 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) to take over the system operations and market operations, which were earlier, carried out by the POWERGRID.

• POSOCO Day is observed on January 3 to commemorate its independent functioning that began on January 3, 2017, under the ministry of power as one of the power PSUs after separating from POWERGRID. 

Functions of Grid-India:

• To supervise and control all aspects concerning operations and manpower requirements of NLDC and RLDCs.

• To act as the apex organisation for human resources requirement of NLDC and RLDCs.

• To ensure planning and implementation of infrastructure required for smooth operation and development of NLDC and RLDCs.

• To coordinate the functioning of NLDC and all RLDCs.

• To advise and assist state level Load Dispatch Centres, including specialised trainings, etc.

• To perform any other function entrusted to it by the ministry of power.

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