CERC Review Ensures Grid Stability Amid Rising Power Demand And Solar Variability In October 2024

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) issued its final order in Suo Motu Petition No. 9/SM/2024 on October 5, 2025, following a year-long monitoring exercise to ensure the safe, secure, and reliable operation of India’s power system during seasonal variations. The Commission had directed the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC), Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs), and State Load Despatch Centres (SLDCs) to undertake advanced operational planning, particularly for October 2024, when power demand typically rises due to seasonal changes. The order required these agencies to forecast demand, assess generation adequacy, manage reserve margins, and coordinate with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar to avoid grid imbalances.

Most states and regions submitted compliance reports confirming that they had ensured adequate generation and balanced operations. In Andhra Pradesh, for example, the DISCOMs arranged 500 MW round-the-clock (RTC) power and additional swap power to meet peak needs. Himachal Pradesh carried out coordinated resource planning with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and managed scheduling based on real-time data. Gujarat’s SLDC actively forecasted solar and wind generation and avoided planned generator outages during critical months to maintain stability. Maharashtra highlighted shortfalls during non-solar hours, ranging between 100 MW and 1,200 MW, due to high evening demand, though real-time monitoring and market purchases helped mitigate deficits.

Across the southern, western, and northern regions, rainfall and cooler weather moderated demand compared to projections, and no major load-shedding incidents were reported. Kerala recorded a 5% rise in peak demand compared to the previous year, with the highest peak reaching 4,455 MW in early October. Tamil Nadu managed anticipated peaks of 19,139 MW through bilateral and real-time market purchases. In contrast, the North Eastern and Eastern regions largely experienced surplus conditions, particularly in hydro-rich states like Meghalaya.

CERC’s report noted that renewable energy integration, especially solar and wind, played a crucial role in meeting daytime demand, although challenges persisted during non-solar hours. The NLDC data showed India’s all-time peak demand of 2,19,222 MW on October 3, 2024 (solar peak) and 2,18,945 MW on October 4, 2024 (non-solar peak). Solar generation reached 40,494 MW during the daytime, while thermal generation ramped up to over 1,63,000 MW during evening hours to compensate for solar decline.

The Commission’s technical review also found that while most SLDCs complied with daily and weekly demand forecasting, several lagged in month-ahead and year-ahead data submissions, particularly in the eastern and north-eastern regions. CERC directed all SLDCs to strengthen manpower, automation systems, and forecasting mechanisms for renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hybrid projects. It emphasized the need to operationalize the SAMAST (Scheduling, Accounting, Metering, and Settlement) scheme for more accurate real-time management and data integration.

Overall, the Commission concluded that India’s grid remained stable throughout October 2024 despite high variability in renewable output and seasonal changes. It called for continued collaboration among NLDC, RLDCs, and SLDCs to enhance renewable energy forecasting, maintain adequate reserves, and ensure smooth operation of the grid during future peak-demand months, particularly as the share of solar and other renewables continues to grow.