Power generating agencies to tackle blackout prevention Monday
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 25 - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has summoned Thailand’s three power generating organisations to a meeting on Monday to discuss recurrence prevention of this week's electricity blackout which abruptly turned 14 southern provinces into darkness Tuesday night.

Kawin Thangsupanich, ERC secretary general, said today that the meeting will map out prevention measures against power outage so as to ensure energy stability nationwide.

The failure of the high-power transmission line struck by lightning in Prachuab Khiri Khan disrupted the power supply from the Ratchaburi electricity generating plant to Thailand’s southern region, causing a blackout in 14 provinces, many of them as long as 3-4 hours.

He said the ERC has set up an ad-hoc committee, headed by ERC board chairman Noppadol Mantachitr, to revise the line of command and decision-making to instantly cope with a blackout and prevent expanded damages.

The new guideline should finish in two weeks based on the existing measures already enforced in the three power generating organisations.

Thailand’s electricity is supplied and operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA).

“The power supply and shutdown centre will be empowered to make an instant decision which will affect specific, instead of widespread, areas. This helps minimise damages,” he said.

Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal assigned the ERC to urgently find prevention measures after Tuesday’s historic power failure in the South.

An EGAT official said the authority to order power cut-off must be clear, otherwise the agencies could be sued by the public. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-05-25

Is Blackout Prevention Monday to become a regular feature of the government's calendar, can we add to Songkran's Seven Dangerous Days and other annual campaigns we have come to love and laugh at?

I think the finest Sparky's from across the nation should also attend the meeting.,..maybe they could provide ideas on how to improve electricity transmission and safety...like how to get electrical wiring to carry far more amperage than the wire is rated for. Many Thai Sparky's have perfected this science (well, maybe not the safety part of it).

Not sure why a lawsuit from the public would worry a EGAT official. A clear directive as to who has power to order 'cut off' as protection from a lawsuit makes less sense than the first worry. This man must have a lot of personal worries in life, as well, maybe he should find a new line of work, demining, explosive demolition, crossing the street at rush hour, etc.

If there's another 'brownout' will Thai drivers still refuse to turn their headlights on to save their battery?

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has summoned Thailand’s three power generating organisations to a meeting on Monday to discuss recurrence prevention of this week's electricity blackout which abruptly turned 14 southern provinces into darkness Tuesday night.

Is Blackout Prevention Monday to become a regular feature of the government's calendar, can we add to Songkran's Seven Dangerous Days and other annual campaigns we have come to love and laugh at?

They need to come up with something for Saturday. How about Sabotage-Free Saturdays?

This morning, three separate bombs in the southern province of Yala resulted in a return of the electricity blackout when electricity power poles were targeted. Further details in breaking news.

We had two blackouts for a few minutes each last night in central Bangkok.

causing a blackout in 14 provinces, many of them as long as 3-4 hours.

It was 4 hours, matey. 4! Not "3 to 4"!

We had two blackouts for a few minutes each last night in central Bangkok.

My UPS has registered 9 cuts since Wednesday. And it isn't on overnight, so these are all day-time outages.

Buy a generator you dont really need something that will run the entire place because it is unusual for power to be off more than a few hours. However this time of year a fan can make a great deal of difference. In the event the power stays out for an extended period a small generator can keep your frezzer at temp with a couple of hours run time. The electrician is here today placing outlets in each room on a dedicated circuit that will be tied into the genny in order to lite a lamp or run a fan as necesssary. It really does beat sitting in the dark sweating.

Moe

Buy a generator you dont really need something that will run the entire place because it is unusual for power to be off more than a few hours. However this time of year a fan can make a great deal of difference. In the event the power stays out for an extended period a small generator can keep your frezzer at temp with a couple of hours run time. The electrician is here today placing outlets in each room on a dedicated circuit that will be tied into the genny in order to lite a lamp or run a fan as necesssary. It really does beat sitting in the dark sweating.

Moe

Ummmm.........why not connect your genny to the house side of the mains isolator, open it during a blackout, and use your normal house circuitry?

Rainy season is generally the season of blackouts.

Plenty of rain and wind on all thoses wishy washy lines hanging around just above your heads

When I was in Burma, Rangoon was called the black out hum of SEA. Is the Thai government attempting to become the new black out hum?

Buy a generator you dont really need something that will run the entire place because it is unusual for power to be off more than a few hours. However this time of year a fan can make a great deal of difference. In the event the power stays out for an extended period a small generator can keep your frezzer at temp with a couple of hours run time. The electrician is here today placing outlets in each room on a dedicated circuit that will be tied into the genny in order to lite a lamp or run a fan as necesssary. It really does beat sitting in the dark sweating.

Moe

Ummmm.........why not connect your genny to the house side of the mains isolator, open it during a blackout, and use your normal house circuitry?

Very valid point but I think that the OP is not trying to run the whole property rather just those essential items. I would recommend just linking up the fridge/freezer, beer fridge, the lights in the toilet and as a minimum one fan along with the beer fridge. And of course the beer fridge. And a fan. And the fridge/freezer. Did I mention the beer fridge yet?

come up the north east its a daily occurrence during wet season

Ummmm.........why not connect your genny to the house side of the mains isolator, open it during a blackout, and use your normal house circuitry?

Indeed, IF and only IF you use a proper interlocked transfer switch (automatic or manual).

Any other solution could prove fatal.