SOUTHERN REGIONAL POWER COMMITTEE

BENGALURU

PROTECTION PROTOCOL OF SOTHERN REGION

Prepared in Compliance to

Clause 12(2) and Clause 13 of Central Electricity Regulatory

Commission Indian Electricity Grid Code Regulations, 2023
[Rev_2]
By

SRPC Secretariat

(Effective from 01.10.2023)

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 Contents

1. Background

2. Applicability

3. Definitions

4. General Philosophy of Protection System

5. Protection Schemes

6. Protection Settings & Coordination

7. Disturbance Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting

8. Protection Audit Plan

9. System Protection Schemes (SPS)

10. Performance Monitoring of the Protection Systems

11. Compliance Monitoring

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 PROTECTION PROTOCOL OF SOUTHERN REGION
1. Background
1.1. The Protection Protocol of Southern region is prepared in accordance with Clauses
12(2) & 13 of the Indian Electricity Grid Code, 2023 (IEGC 2023) notified by the
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
1.1.1. The clause 12(2) of the IEGC 2023:
“There shall be a uniform protection protocol for the users of the grid:
a) for proper co-ordination of protection system in order to protect the
equipment/system from abnormal operating conditions, isolate the
faulty equipment and avoid unintended operation of protection
system;
b) to have a repository of protection system, settings and events at
regional level;
c) specifying timelines for submission of data;
d) to ensure healthiness of recording equipment including triggering
criteria and time synchronization; and
e) to provide for periodic audit of protection system.”
1.1.2. The clause 13 of the IEGC 2023:
“13. Protection protocol
(1) All users connected to the integrated grid shall provide and
maintain effective protection system having reliability, selectivity,
speed and sensitivity to isolate faulty section and protect element(s)
as per the CEA Technical Standards for Construction, the CEA
Technical Standards for Connectivity, the CEA (Grid Standards)
Regulations, 2010, the CEA Technical Standards for
Communication and any other applicable CEA Standards specified
from time to time.
(2) Back-up protection system shall be provided to protect an element
in the event of failure of the primary protection system.
(3) RPC shall develop the protection protocol and revise the same,
after review from time to time, in consultation with the stakeholders
in the concerned region, and in doing so shall be guided by the
principle that minimum electrical protection functions for
equipment connected with the grid shall be provided as per the
CEA Technical Standards for Construction, the CEA Technical
Standards for Connectivity, the CEA Technical Standards for
Communication, the CEA (Grid Standards) Regulations, 2010, the
CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply)

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 Regulations, 2010, and any other CEA standards specified from
time to time.
(4) The protection protocol in a particular system may vary depending
upon operational experience. Changes in protection protocol, as
and when required, shall be carried out after deliberation and
approval of the concerned RPC.
(5) Violation of the protection protocol of the region shall be brought
to the notice of concerned RPC by the concerned RLDC or SLDC,
as the case may be.”
1.2. The Protection Protocol of Southern Region stipulates General Protection Philosophy
of Protection System, Protection Schemes for Generators & various Transmission
Elements in Power System, Protection Settings & their Coordination among entities,
Disturbance Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting, Time Synchronization of Protection
Systems, Protection Audit Plan, Performance of Protection Systems & Compliance
Monitoring.

2. Applicability
The Protection Protocol of Southern Region shall be applicable to all Southern Regional
entities, State/Central/Private Generating Companies/ Generating Stations including REGs,
RHGS, integrated RE with Pumped Storage Plant (PSP), SLDCs, SRLDC, CTU, STUs,
Transmission Licensees and SRPC, connected at 220kV and above.

3. Definitions
Words and expressions used in this Protection Protocol are defined in the Act or any other
regulations specified by the Central Commission or Central Electricity Authority shall,
unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings assigned to them under the Act or
other regulations specified by the Central Commission, as the case may be.

4. General Philosophy of Protection System

4.1. Protection philosophy shall be in accordance with below mentioned objectives, design
criteria and other details. However, protection design in a particular system may vary
depending upon judgment and operational experience in the broad contours of the
protection philosophy. Consideration must also be given to the type of equipment to
be protected as well as the importance of this equipment to the system. Further,
protection must not be defeated by the failure of a single component.
4.1.1. Objectives:
The basic objectives of any protection schemes should be to:
(i) Protect equipments from abnormal operating conditions.
(ii) Automatically isolate the faulty element.
(iii) Avoid unintended or misoperation of protection system
(iv) Mitigate the effect of short circuit and other abnormal conditions in
minimum possible time and area.

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 (v) Indicate the location and type of fault and
(vi) Provide effective tools to analyse the fault and decide remedial
measures.
4.1.2. Design Criteria:
To accomplish the above objectives, the four design criteria for protection that
should be considered are:
(i) fault clearance time/speed;
(ii) selectivity;
(iii) sensitivity and
(iv) reliability (dependability and security)
4.1.2.1. Fault clearance time/speed: It is defined as the time required to interrupt all
sources supplying a faulted piece of equipment. In order to minimize the
effect on customers and maintain system stability, Fault clearance time shall
be as per CEA Grid Standard Regulations 2010, as amended to date.
4.1.2.2. Selectivity: Selectivity is the ability of the protective relaying to trip the
minimum circuits or equipment to isolate the fault. To ensure Selectivity,
coordination shall be ensured with the adjacent protection schemes including
breaker failure, transformer downstream relays, generator protection and
station auxiliary protection.
4.1.2.3. Sensitivity: Sensitivity demands that the relays be capable of sensing
minimum fault conditions without imposing limitations on circuit or
equipment capabilities. To ensure Sensitivity, the settings must be
investigated to determine that they will perform correctly for the minimum
fault current envisaged in the system, yet remain stable during transients and
power swings from which the system can recover.
4.1.2.4. Reliability: Reliability is a measure of protective relaying systems certainly
to trip when required (dependability) and not to trip falsely (Security). To
ensure Reliability, two independent auxiliary direct current- supplies shall be
provided for Main-I and Main-II relays. The Main-I and Main-II relays
should be from two different makes or operating with different algorithm.
The CB´s shall have two independent trip coils and two independent trip
circuits. Each protection device should trip at least one of them by
independent auxiliary DC- supplies.
4.1.2.5. Security: To ensure Security, the protection shouldn’t limit the maximum
transmission capacity of the element. Distance protection in particular could
cause spurious tripping due to specific grid conditions, in case of high load
operation. Therefore, any special topologies must be known and considered
for protection parameterization. For parallel Over Head Lines it is necessary
to consider the rapid increase of load current in the healthy line when the
faulty line trips and the protection operation must allow such conditions The
load encroachment detection function of the relays must be used, when the
highest distance zone resistance reach conflicts with the maximum transmitted
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 load on the protected element.
4.2. All generating units shall have standard protection system to protect the units not only from
faults within the units and within the Station but also from faults in sub-stations and
transmission lines.
4.3. The generator, generator transformer, unit auxiliary transformer shall be provided with
protection systems connected to two independent channels or groups, such that one channel
or group shall always be available for any type of fault in the generator and these
transformers;
4.4. Protection relays shall be configured in such a way that analog, digital and milli
ampere input points shall not pick up due to stray voltages. All protection relays
should have enough spare input and output contacts for taking care of future
expansions.
4.5. Protective relays shall be used to detect electrical faults, to activate the alarms and
disconnect or shut down the faulted apparatus to provide for safety of personnel,
equipment and system within shortest possible time.
4.6. Electrical faults shall be detected by the protective relays arranged in overlapping
zones of protection.
4.7. The protection relays for the generators, motors, transformers and the transmission
lines shall generally be of numerical type.
4.8. All relays used shall be suitable for operation with CTs secondary rated for one ampere
or five amperes as per relevant Indian Standards or International Electrotechnical
Commission or Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standards.
4.9. Relevant Indian Standards or International Electrotechnical Commission or Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standards shall be applied for protection of
generators, transformers and motors.
5. Protection Schemes
The electrical protection functions for equipment connected with the grid shall be provided
as per the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical
Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations 2022 amended to date, the CEA (Technical
Standards for connectivity to the Grid) Regulations 2007 amended to date, the CEA
(Technical Standards for Communication System in Power System Operation) Regulations
2020 amended to date, the CEA (Grid Standards) Regulations 2010 amended to date, the
CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations 2023 amended to date,
and any other CEA standards specified from time to time.
5.1. Protection Scheme for Thermal Generating Units
The electrical protection functions for generator, generator transformer, unit auxiliary
transformer and station transformer of coal or lignite based thermal generating
stations, gas turbine based thermal generating stations, internal combustion (IC)
engine based thermal generating stations shall be provided in accordance with but
not limited to the list given in SCHEDULE-I of CEA (Technical Standards for
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 Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations 2022 amended to
date.
5.2. Protection Scheme for Hydro Generating Units
5.2.1. For the generating units with a rating of more than one hundred megawatt
(100MW), protection system shall be configured into two independent sets of
protection (Group A and B) acting on two independent sets of trip coil fed from
independent DC supplies, using separate sets of instrument transformers, and
segregated cables of current transformers and voltage transformers.
5.2.2. The protection functions for Generator, Excitation Transformer, Generator
Transformer, Generator and Generator Transformer, Unit Auxiliary
Transformer, and Station Auxiliary Transformer shall be provided in accordance
with but not limited to the list given in SCHEDULE-IV of CEA (Technical
Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations
2022 amended to date except for variable speed units which will have specialized
protection functions.
5.3. Protection Scheme for REGs/RHGS/BESS
Protection Schemes for Renewable Energy (RE) Power Plants of Solar power
generation, Wind power generation, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and Hybrid
of these connected with grid at voltage level above 650 volts shall be in accordance with
the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Renewable
Energy Power Plants) Regulations, 2024 from the date as & when these regulations are
notified). As per Central Electricity Authority (technical Standards for Connectivity of
the Distributed Generation Resources) amendment Regulations, 2019 Regulation 11A-
Standards for charging station, prosumer, or a person connected or seeking
connectivity to the electricity system: -
1) The applicant shall provide a reliable protection system to detect various faults
and abnormal conditions and provide an appropriate means to isolate the faulty
equipment or system automatically.
2) The applicant shall ensure that fault of his equipment or system does not affect
the grid adversely.
3) The protective relays deployed for inverter protections in RE plants shall possess
protections from AC/DC over current, over and under frequency and shall
comply features like LVRT/HVRT (as per CEA Technical Standards for
Connectivity).
4) The protective relays deployed in RE plants shall be immune from conditions
like phase jumps and sharp change in frequency during fault scenarios.
5) The inverters and BESS in RE plants shall responds to abnormal conditions
arises due to system faults within its operating margin in holistic manner.
6) Protection settings of inverters/WTG shall be coordinated in such a way that it
accounts for the voltage rise/drop between inverter/WTG terminal & Point of
interconnection (POI). Overvoltage /under voltage trip settings should be
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 configured accordingly.
7) The protection settings of elements in collector system viz. transformers, cables
etc. shall such that it allows RE plants to ensure the compliance of CEA
standards at POI.
8) Sub-cycle transients or measurement inaccuracy shall be factored while
configuring the protection settings.
5.4. Substations & Transmission System Elements
5.4.1. All major protection relays for the Voltage levels 66 kV and above shall be of
numerical type and communication protocol shall be as per IEC-61850.
5.4.2. Grouping of Protection systems for the voltage level 66 kV and above:
i. The protection circuits and relays shall be electrically and physically
segregated into two groups each being independent and capable of providing
uninterrupted protection even in the event of one of the protection group fails
or taken out for maintenance.
ii. Interconnection between these two groups shall not generally be attempted.
However, such interconnection shall be kept to the bare minimum, if found
absolutely necessary.
5.4.3. The protections required in respect of transmission lines, transformers, reactors
and bus bars but not limited to shall be in accordance with SCHEDULE-V of
CEA (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric
Lines) Regulations 2022 amended to date.
5.4.4. Bus Bar Protection and Local Breaker Backup Protection (breaker failure
protection):
i) Bus bar protection and local breaker backup protection shall be provided in
220 kV and higher voltage interconnecting sub- stations as well as in all
generating station switchyards.
ii) Duplication of bus bar protection shall be done for all main buses of 400kV
and above voltage class.
iii) The bus bar protection scheme shall be centralized or distributed type and
have provision for planned future expansion.
5.5. HVDC Terminals/ Stations
5.5.1. Classical HVDC Terminals/ Stations
i) HVDC system protection shall consist of two parts:
(A) AC side protection:
AC side protection function shall cover the zone for converter transformer,
AC filters, shunt capacitors, shunt reactors, and bus bars. These protections
shall generally follow the same philosophy as in a typical substation i.e.
detection of fault by relay and tripping of circuit breaker.
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 (B) DC side protection:
DC side protection shall cover the zones consisting of the valve hall, DC
switchyard including smoothing reactor and DC filters, DC line, DMR line
/ electrode line and ground electrode. The protection equipment shall be
designed to be fail safe and shall ensure high security to avoid mal-
operation/ unwanted shutdown due to protection equipment failures.
ii) Following a DC Line fault, the HVDC System shall have the facility to restart,
one or more times, the faulted pole at a variable pre-selected DC voltage
level(s), not below 80% of the nominal voltage rating. The DC transmission
system shall be capable of recovery in a controlled and stable manner without
commutation failures during recovery following ac and dc system faults. The
post fault power order shall be equal to the pre-fault power order unless AC/
DC systems dictate otherwise.
iii) Protection system required in respect of Classical HVDC Terminals/ Stations
but not limited to shall be in accordance with 13 (b) of Part A of SCHEDULE-VI of
CEA (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines)
Regulations 2022 amended to date.
iv) Software based controls and protection shall be used to permit flexibility in effecting
modifications. Protection and controls shall be duplicated for reliability. The control
& protection shall provide fast controllability of the HVDC system.
v) HVDC Stations shall have ensure the open line test (OLT) before charging of lines
after DC faults.
vi) All HVDC stations should prioritize the protections with back up for DC line faults,
Differential protection for DC yard equipment including converter valves, Filter
protections, External block protections for problems like smoke detections, valve
cooling etc. AC side protections and protection block for various controller mal
operation issues.
5.5.2. Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based HVDC Terminals/Stations
i) The protection equipment shall be designed to be fail-safe and shall ensure
high security to avoid mal-operation/ unwanted shutdown due to protection
equipment failures.
ii) Protection system required in respect of Voltage Source Converter (VSC)
based HVDC Terminals/ Stations but not limited to shall be in accordance
with 8 (b) of Part B of SCHEDULE-VI of CEA (Technical Standards for
Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations 2022
amended to date.
iii) Software based controls and protection shall be used to permit flexibility in
effecting modifications. Protection and controls shall be duplicated for
reliability. Protection shall be provided by numerical relays to suit the requirement
of the HVDC system.
5.5.3. STATCOM: All STATCOM shall be having sensitive and fast acting
protection system for coupling transformer, MSC, MSR, MV bus, VSC
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 branches and value hall.
i) The utility should redundancy for the protections like capacitor unbalance,
Neutral displacement, cooling and temperature dependent protections all the
time.
5.6. Philosophy of Transmission Line Protection
5.6.1. Transmission circuit construction can be considered in three main categories
viz.: Overhead construction, Underground cable construction and Composite
(overhead plus underground) construction. The requirements of overhead line
and cable protection systems vary greatly, due to the exposure of transmission
circuits to a wide variety of environmental hazards and are subjected to the wide
variations in the format, usage and construction methodologies of transmission
circuits. The type of protection signaling (tele- protection) or data
communication systems required to work with the protection systems will also
influence protection scheme requirements.
5.6.2. Transmission circuit Main protection is required to provide primary protection
for the line and clear all type of faults on it within shortest possible time with
reliability, selectivity and sensitivity. Transmission circuit back-up protection
shall cater for failure of any main protection system to clear any fault that it is
expected to clear. A protection function that offers back-up for most faults may
also provide main protection for some fault conditions. Combinations of main
and back-up protection systems should be used to address the main and
application specific requirements for transmission circuits.
5.6.3. Design Criterions: While designing the scheme for protection of transmission
lines following criteria shall be considered:
i) The systems applied must be capable of detecting all types of faults,
including maximum expected arc resistance that may occur at any location
on the protected line.
ii) The protection should be set not to trip under system transient conditions,
which are not short circuits. Conversely where the short circuit current is
low due to local grid conditions (weak network) or due to high resistance
of the arc, this must be taken into consideration to trip the relay by using
the most appropriate criterion, without jeopardizing the unwanted tripping
during heavy load conditions.
iii) The design and settings of the transmission line protection systems must
be such that, with high probability, operation will not occur for faults
external to the line or under non-fault conditions.
iv) The over current protection for the transmission lines 220 kV and above
voltage levels shall generally be in disabled condition.
5.6.4. Reliability Criterions:
i) For transmission line having voltages at 220kV and above: High speed
Duplicated Main Protection (Main-I and Main-II) shall be provided.
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Main-I protection shall be carrier aided non-switched distance protection.
Main-II protection shall be carrier aided non-switched distance protection, or
phase segregated line differential protection. For very short line (less than 10
km), cable or combination of overhead line and cable, line differential
protection with distance protection as backup (built-in Main relay or standalone)
shall be provided mandatorily as Main-I and Main-II.
In addition to above, following shall also be provided:
a) Auto reclose relay (Standalone or as built-in function of Main-I &
Main-II relay) suitable for 1 ph or 3 ph (with deadline charging and
synchro- check facility) reclosure.
b) Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT) directional E/F relay
(Standalone or as built-in function of Main-I & Main-II relay).
c) Inverse Definite Minimum Time (IDMT) Directional over current for
220 kV lines if Main-II is not provided.
Main Protection shall have following features:
a) The Main-I and Main-II protection shall be numerical relays of
different makes or employ different fault detection algorithm.
b) Each distance relay shall protect four/five independent zones
(three/four forward zones and one reverse zone). It shall be provided
with carrier aided tripping through PLCC or OPGW/ FOTE
communication.
c) The relays should have sufficient speed so that they will provide the
clearing times as defined in the CEA Grid Standards Regulations
amended time to time.
d) The Main-I and Main-II relays shall be powered by two separate DC
sources.
e) Both, Main-I and Main-II shall send initiation signal to Breaker Failure
Relay / LBB Protection system.
f) Internal Directional Earth Fault function shall be set to trip the line in
case of high resistance earth faults.
g) The Broken Conductor detection shall be used for alarm purpose only.
h) The internal overvoltage function shall be used to protect the line
against over voltages. Two stage over voltage protection for the
transmission lines (Stage-I as Voltage and Time graded & Stage-II @
140% of Nominal Voltage with time delay 100ms) shall be
implemented for the transmission lines of voltage levels 400kV and
above. The OVR grading, Voltage and Time graded, for the Stage-I
over voltage protection shall be as recommended by SRPC/SRLDC.
The lines emanating from same substation shall be provided with pick-
up as well as time grading to avoid concurrent trippings. The
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 overvoltage relay shall have better than 98% drop-off to pick-up ratio
(the ratio of the limiting values of the characteristic quantity at which
the relay resets and operates). For over voltage detection, though Ph- to-N
voltage is preferable to Ph-to-Ph voltage, to achieve required discrimination
for OVR grading on account of limitation imposed by voltage resolution of
the relay, Ph-to-Ph voltage to be used for Over Voltage detection.
ii) For transmission lines having voltages at 132kV/110kV: There should
be at least one carrier aided non-switched four/five zone distance
protection scheme. Carrier aided zone protection may be optional for the radial
feeders and feeders having intermittent loads In addition to this, another non-
switched/switched distance scheme or Inverse definite Minimum time
(IDMT) directional over current and earth fault relays should be provided
as back up. Main protection should be suitable for single or three phase
tripping. Additionally, auto-reclose relay suitable for 1 ph or 3 ph (with
dead line charging and synchro-check facility) reclosure shall be
provided. In case of both line protections being Distance Protections,
IDMT type Directional E/F relay (standalone or as built-in function of
Main-I & Main-II relay) shall also be provided additionally.
5.6.5. Following types of protection scheme to be adopted to deal with faults on the
lines:
i) Distance Protection Scheme: The scheme shall be based on the measuring
the impedance parameters of the lines with basic requirements as below:
a) Each distance relay shall protect four/five independent zones
(three/four forward zones and one reverse zone). It shall be provided
with carrier aided tripping through PLCC or OPGW/ FOTE
communication.
b) Each Distance Relay:
i. Shall include power swing detection feature for selectively blocking,
as required.
ii. Shall include suitable fuse-failure protection to monitor all types of
fuse failure and block the protection.
iii. Shall include load encroachment prevention feature like Load
blinder.
iv. Shall include Out of Step trip function.
v. Distance relay as Main protection should always be complemented
by Directional ground protection to provide protection for high
resistive line faults.
vi. Shall be capable to protect the series compensated lines from voltage
inversion, Week end infeed and current inversion phenomenon.
Special measures must be taken to guard against these
phenomenon.
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 ii) Line Differential Protection: The scheme shall be based on the comparing
the electrical quantities between input and output of the protected system.
Provided that:
a) Due to the fact that short lines (less than 10kM) and/or cables do not
have enough electrical length, the current differential relay should
always be used.
b) For Cables, at least a differential line protection shall be used in order to
guarantee fast fault clearing while maintaining security. The reason
being that there are many sources of errors associated to other protection
principles, especially for ground faults in cables.
c) The differential protection shall have following requirements:
i. Line differential as Main-I with inbuilt backup Distance Protection
shall be installed for all the lines irrespective of length (subject to
technical limitations). Zone-I protection feature shall get
automatically enabled in case of communication failure observed by
the differential relay.
ii. The differential relays provided in 220kV and above system must
operate in less than 30 ms. SRPC/SRLDC may decide on
differential protection on voltage level below 220kV.
iii. The current differential protection should a reliable type (preferably
digital). The protection should be of the segregate phase type, i.e. it
should be able to detect the phase in fault and therefore for the case
of single line-ground (SLG) faults to trip only the phase in fault (also
to establish single phase A/R). The synchronization of the measured
values is done via a communication system. The communication
system for differential line protection should be based on fibre optic
and any equipment should comply with the IEC 60834.
5.6.6. Auto Reclosing:
The single phase high speed auto-reclosure (HSAR) at 220 kV level and above
(except for the composite feeders: overhead plus underground) shall be
implemented, including on lines emanating from generating stations. If 3-phase
auto reclosure is adopted in the application of the same on lines emanating from
generating stations should be studied and decision taken on case to case basis.
For 132kV system, three phase auto-reclosure (TPAR) is optional. As per CEA
Construction Standards for construction of electrical plants and lines
Regulation 2022, 3 Phase A/R is optional for 132 kV System.
i) AR Function Requirements:
It shall have the following attributes:
a) Have single phase or three phase reclosing facilities.
b) Incorporate a facility of selecting single phase/three phase/single and
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 three phase auto-reclose and non-auto reclosure modes.
c) Have facilities for selecting check synchronizing or dead line charging
features.
d) Be of high speed single shot type
e) Suitable relays for SC and DLC should be included in the overall auto-
reclose scheme if three phase reclosing is provided.
f) Should allow sequential reclosing of breakers in one and half breaker or
double breaker arrangement.
It may have the following attributes as well:
1) Have a continuously variable single phase dead time.
2) Have continuously variable three phase dead time for
three phase reclosing.
3) Have continuously variable reclaim time.
ii) Scheme Special Requirements:
a) Modern numerical relays (IEDs) have AR function as built-in feature.
However, standalone AR relay or AR function of Bay control unit (BCU)
for 220kV and above voltage lines may be used. For 132kV/110kV lines,
AR functions built-in Main distance relay IED can be used.
b) Fast simultaneous tripping of the breakers at both ends of a faulty line is
essential for successful auto-reclosing. Therefore, availability of
protection signaling equipment is a pre-requisite.
c) Starting and Blocking of Auto-reclose Relays:
Some protections start auto-reclosing and others block. Protections which
start A/R are Main-I and Main-II line protections. Protections which block
A/R are:
i. Breaker Fail Relay
ii. Line Reactor Protections
iii. O/V Protection
iv. Received Direct Transfer trip signals
v. Busbar Protection
vi. Zone 2/3 of Distance Protection
vii. Carrier Fail Conditions
viii. Circuit Breaker Problems.
ix. Phase to Phase Distance Trip
x. AR selection switch in OFF position/ Non-auto position

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 xi. Logic AR OFF in SAS
xii. Phase Distance Start (when Auto reclosure is in progress)
When a reclosing relay receives start and block A/R impulse
simultaneously, block signal dominates. Similarly, if it receives
‘start’ for 1-phase fault immediately followed by multi- phase
fault the later one dominates over the previous one.
xiii. Fault on reclaim time
xiv. Fault on line charging
xv. Pole discrepancy
iii) Requirement for Multi breaker Arrangement:
Following schemes shall be adhered to multi-breaker arrangements of one
and half breaker or double breaker arrangement:
a) In a multi-Circuit Breaker (C.B.) arrangement one C.B. can be taken out
of operation and the line still be kept in service. After a line fault only
those C.Bs which were closed before the fault shall be reclosed.
b) In multi-C.B. arrangement it is desirable to have a priority arrangement
so as to avoid closing of both the breakers in case of a permanent fault.
c) A natural priority is that the C.B. near the busbar is reclosed first. In case
of faults on two lines on both sides of a tie C.B. the tie C.B. is reclosed
after the outer C.Bs. The outer C.Bs. do not need a prioritizing with
respect to each other.
iv) Setting Criteria:
a) Auto reclosing requires a dead time which exceeds the de-ionising time.
The circuit voltage is the factor having the predominating influence on
the de-ionising time. Single phase dead time of 1.0 sec. is recommended
for 765 kV, 400 kV, 220 kV and 132kV system. As per CEA
Construction Standards for construction of electrical plants and lines
Regulation 2022, 3 Phase A/R is optional for 132 kV System. Therefore,
132kV system may be included based on SRPC/SRLDC input. For the
lines emanating from generating stations single-phase dead time upto
1.5 sec may be adopted.
b) According to IEC 62271-101, a breaker must be capable of withstanding
the following operating cycle with full rated breaking current:
O - 0.3 s - CO - 3 min - CO
O stands for Open
CO stands for Close-Open
The rated operating cycle of the circuit breaker consisting of an
opening, a holding time of 0.3 seconds, a CO cycle, a 3-minute wait,

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 and another CO cycle.
The recommended operating cycle at 765kV, 400 kV, 220 kV and
132kV system is as per the IEC standard. As per CEA Construction
Standards for construction of electrical plants and lines Regulation
2022, 3 Phase A/R is optional for 132 kV System. Therefore, 132kV
system may be included based on SRPC/SRLDC input. Therefore,
reclaim time of 25 Sec. is recommended.
5.6.7. Power Swing Blocking and Out of Step (OOS) Function
Large interconnected systems are more susceptible to Power Swings in
comparison to the erstwhile smaller standalone systems. Inter-area Power
Swings can be set up even due to some event in far flung locations in the system.
During the tenure of such swings, outage of any system element may aggravate
the situation and can lead to instability (loss of synchronism). It is hence
extremely important that unwanted tripping of transmission elements need to be
prevented, under these conditions. Distance protection relays demand special
consideration under such a situation, being susceptible to undesirable mis-
operation during Power swings which may be recoverable or irrecoverable
power swings. Following steps may be adopted to achieve above objective:
i) Block all Zones except Zone-I
This application applies a blocking signal to the higher impedance zones of
distance relay and allows Zone 1 to trip if the swing enters its operating
characteristic. Breaker application is also a consideration when tripping
during a power swing. A subset of this application is to block the Zone 2 and
higher impedance zones for a preset time (Unblock time delay) and allow a
trip if the detection relays do not reset.
In this application, if the swing enters Zone 1, a trip is issued, assuming that
the swing impedance entering the Zone-1 characteristic is indicative of loss
of synchronism. However, a major disadvantage associated with this
philosophy is that indiscriminate line tripping can take place, even for
recoverable power swings and risk of damage to breaker.
ii) Block All Zones and Trip with Out of Step (OOS) Function
This application applies a blocking signal to all distance relay zones and
order tripping if the power swing is unstable using the OOS function
(function built in modern distance relays or as a standalone relay). This
application is the recommended approach since a controlled separation of
the power system can be achieved at preselected network locations. Tripping
after the swing is well past the 180-degree position is the recommended
option from CB operation point of view.
Normally relay is having Power Swing Un-block timer which unblocks on
very slow power swing condition (when impedance locus stays within a zone
for a long duration). Typically, the Power swing un-blocking time setting is
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 2sec.
However, on detection of a line fault, the relay has to be de-blocked.
iii) Placement of OOS trip Systems
Out of step tripping protection (Standalone relay or built-in function of Main
relay) shall be provided on all the selected lines. The locations where it is
desired to split the system on out of step condition shall be decided based on
system studies.
The selection of network locations for placement of OOS systems can best
be obtained through transient stability studies covering many possible
operating conditions. Based on these system studies, either of the option
above may be adopted after the approval of PCSC of SRPC.
While applying Power Swing Blocking (PSB) in the distance protection
relay a few other important aspects also need to be considered:
• PSB function should not block if negative sequence or zero sequence
currents are present. Once blocked, the PSB should unblock if negative
sequence or zero sequence currents are detected. Power Swing is a
balanced three phase phenomenon and unbalance can only occur in the
case of an asymmetrical fault.
• It will be desirable that during tenure of PSB, the distance protection is
capable of detecting a fault and tripping. If such a feature is not available
in the relay, PSB should be unblocked after a time delay, corresponding
to the half cycle period of the slowest expected Swing Frequency
(usually 2s corresponding to the slowest swing frequency of 0.25Hz is
considered as default), to avoid the protection remaining perpetually
blocked.
5.7. Transmission Relay Loadability
Transmission Relay Loadability means the loading permitted in the transmission line
by the relay including a security margin. The relay Loadability is to be arrived in
such a way as far as possible not to interfere with system operator actions, while
allowing for short-term overloads, with sufficient margin to allow for inaccuracies in
the relays and instrument transformers. Transmission relay do not prematurely trip
the transmission elements out-of-service and allow the system operators from taking
controlled actions consciously to alleviate the overload.
5.7.1. Protective relay settings shall
i) Not limit transmission Loadability;
ii) Not interfere with system operators’ ability to take remedial action to
protect system reliability and;
iii) Be set to reliably detect all fault conditions and protect the electrical
network from the faults.

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5.7.2. The protective functions which could trip with or without time delay, on load
current i.e. load responsive phase protection systems including but not limited
to:
i) Phase distance.
ii) Out-of-step tripping.
iii) Switch-on-to-fault.
iv) Overcurrent relays.
v) Communications aided protection schemes including but not limited to:
• Permissive overreach transfer trip (POTT).
• Permissive under-reach transfer trip (PUTT).
• Directional comparison blocking (DCB).
• Directional comparison unblocking (DCUB).
vi) Phase overcurrent supervisory elements (i.e., phase fault detectors)
associated with current based, communication-assisted schemes (i.e., pilot
wire, phase comparison, and line current differential) where the scheme is
capable of tripping for loss of communications.
5.7.3. Each Transmission Licensee and Generating Company, shall use any one of the
following criteria for any specific circuit terminal to prevent its phase protective
relay settings from limiting transmission system loadability while maintaining
reliable protection of the Grid for all fault conditions. Relay loadability at 0.85
per unit voltage and a power factor angle of 30 degrees shall be evaluated.
i) For Distance protection relays of transmission lines, the Zone-3 shall
prevent load encroachment, considering the following criteria:
a) Maximum load current (Imax) may be considered as 1.5 times the
thermal rating of the line or 1.5 times the associated bay equipment
current rating (the Minimum of the bay equipment individual rating)
whichever is lower.
(The rating considered is approximately 15 minutes rating of the Transmission
facility).

b) For setting angle for load blinder, a value of 30 degree may be adequate
in most cases.
c) The Distance protection relays shall have provision for load blinder
characteristic or load encroachment detection.
ii) For Directional Overcurrent relays, wherever used in a transmission line
(132/110 kV level), the following shall be adopted:
a) An overload alarm shall be set at 110% of the thermal rating of the line
with sufficient delay. This alarm shall allow the operator to take
corrective action.
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 b) The Directional Overcurrent relay shall allow the line to carry 1.2 times
of the thermal rating of the associated line or bay equipment (whichever
is lower) at least 10 minutes.
iii) For transformer protection relays the following shall be adopted:
• Set the definite time transformer overload relay atleast 105% of the
transformer ratings with sufficient delay. It shall be wired for alarm
purpose only to allow the operator to take corrective action. No tripping
shall be issued from this relay.
• The back-up overcurrent relays shall use IDMT characteristics and be
suitably coordinated with the upstream transmission network.
• Install supervision for the transformer using either a top oil or simulated
winding hot spot temperature element. The alarm and trip settings for
these relays shall be set by individual entities based on the
manufacturer’s recommendation.
Thermal ratings as specified in the prevailing CEA’s Manual on Transmission
Planning Criterion shall be used for above requirement.
6. Protection Settings & Coordination
The purpose is to ensure system protection is coordinated among the grid connected
entities. The Protection systems coordination comprises the following:
i) Each Transmission Licensee, Load Dispatch Centre (LDC) and Generating Company
shall keep themselves familiarized with the purpose and limitations of Protection
System schemes applied in its area of control.
ii) Each Transmission licensee shall coordinate its Protection System schemes with
concerned transmission system, sub-transmission system and generators.
iii) Each Generating Company shall coordinate its Protection System schemes with
concerned transmission system and station auxiliaries.
iv) Each Transmission Licensee and Generation Company shall be responsible for
settings calculations for protection of elements under its ownership. It shall be the
responsibility of the respective asset owner to obtain the inputs (adjacent line settings,
infeed values etc.) from STU/Generating Company/ Transmission Licensee
necessary for calculation of the settings.
v) STU/Generating Company/Transmission Licensee shall provide the infeed
values/latest network model to the requesting entity, within 15 days of receipt of such
a request from the entity.
vi) Each Generating Company and Transmission Licensee, for voltage levels 400kV and
above and interstate lines, shall submit the protection settings as per the format
prescribed, along with the calculation sheets, co-ordination study reports and input
data, in advance, to SRPC/SRLDC for every new element to be commissioned. The
mentioned information shall be submitted to the SRPC/SRLDC two months in

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 advance for all the elements proposed to be commissioned. SRPC shall furnish the
approved settings within forty days from the date of submission of the settings by the
entity.
vii) The PCSC of SRPC shall review the settings to ensure that they are properly
coordinated with adjacent system and comply with the existing guidelines. The onus
to prove the correctness of the calculated settings shall lie with the respective
Transmission licensee/Generation Company. In case, the PCSC feels that the adjacent
transmission system settings need to be changed, in view of the new element, it shall inform
the concerned entity for revision of the existing settings.
viii) The PCSC of SRPC shall review and approve the settings based on the inputs /report
submitted by the entities.
ix) The approved settings shall be implemented by the entity and proper record of the
implemented settings shall be kept. The modern numerical relays have several
settings for various features available in the relay. It shall be ensured that only the
approved features and settings are enabled in the relay. No additional
protection/setting shall be enabled without the prior approval of SRPC.
x) Each Transmission licensee and Generating Company shall co-ordinate the protection
of its station auxiliaries to ensure that the auxiliaries are not interrupted during
transient voltage decay.
xi) Any change in the existing protection settings, for voltage levels 400kV and above &
interstate lines, shall be carried out only after prior approval from the SRPC. The
owner entity shall inform all the adjacent entities about the change being carried out.
xii) In case of failure of a protective relay or equipment failure, the Generating Company
and Transmission Licensee shall inform appropriate LDC/SRLDC/SRPC. The
Generating Company and Transmission Licensee shall take corrective action as soon
as possible.
xiii) Each Transmission Licensee shall coordinate Protection Systems on major
transmission lines and interconnections with neighbouring Generating Company,
Transmission Licensee and appropriate LDC.
xiv) SRPC in consultation with the SRLDC & Southern Regional entities shall undertake
review of the protection settings, assess the requirement of revisions in protection
settings and revise protection settings, from time to time and at least once in a year.
The necessary studies in this regard shall be carried out by the SRPC & SRLDC. The
modifications/changes, if any, in protection settings shall be advised to the respective
users and STUs.
xv) SRPC shall maintain a centralized database and update the same on periodic basis in
respect of their respective region containing details of relay settings for grid elements
connected to 220 kV and above. SRLDC also shall maintain such database.
Respective Transmission licensee/Generating Company/Entities are responsible for
ensuring to make available the implemented protection settings in the centralized
database within fifteen days from the date of commissioning.
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 xvi) If System Protection Schemes (SPS) is recommended to be implemented by the
appropriate forum/Sub-Committee of SRPC on account of operational & system
constraints, the same shall be implemented by the concerned Transmission
licensee/Generating Company/Entities within the specified timelines.
7. Disturbance Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting
The Purpose is to ensure that adequate disturbance data is available to facilitate Grid event
analysis. The analysis of power system disturbances is an important function that monitors
the performance of protection system, which can provide information related to correct
behavior of the system, adoption of safe operating limits, isolation of incipient faults,
7.1. The Disturbance Monitoring Requirements include the following:
i) Each Transmission Licensee and Generating Company shall provide Sequence of
Event (SOE) recording capability by installing Sequence of Event recorders or as
part of another device, such as a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
Remote Terminal Unit (RTU), Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU), a generator plants
Digital (or Distributed) Control System (DCS) or part of Fault recording
equipment.
This capability shall be provided at all substations and at locations to record all the
events in accordance with CEA Grid Standard Regulations, 2010 amended to date.
The following shall also be monitored at each location:
a) Transmission and Generator circuit breaker positions
b) Protective Relay tripping for all Protection Groups that operate to trip circuit
breakers identified in (a) above.
c) Tele protection keying and receive
ii) In either case, a separate work station PC shall be identified to function as the event
logger front end. The event logger work-station PC should be connected to UPS
(Uninterrupted Power Supply).
The event logger signals shall include but not limited to
• All Circuit Breaker and isolator switching Operations
• Auxiliary supply (AC, DC and DG) supervision alarms
• Auxiliary supply switching signals
• Fire-fighting system operation alarms
• Operation signals (Alarm/Trip from all the protection relays.)
• Communication Channel Supervision Signals.
• Intertrip signals receipt and send.
• Global Positioning System (GPS) Clock healthiness.
• Control Switching Device healthiness (if applicable).

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 • RTU/Gateway PC healthiness
• PMU Healthiness
• All Circuit Breaker Supervision Signals.
• Trip Circuit Supervision Signals.
iii) Each Transmission Licensee/Generating Company/Users shall provide Disturbance
recording capability for the following Elements at facilities:
• All transmission lines (Each line shall be provided with facility for distance
to fault locator)
• Autotransformers or phase-shifters connected to busses.
• Shunt capacitors, shunt reactors.
• Individual generator line interconnections.
• Dynamic VAR Devices.
• HVDC terminals.
• Bus Bars
• Inverters and PPC
• Generators
• STATCOM
iv) The Disturbance recording feature shall be enabled and configured in all the
numerical relays installed. Disturbance recording system shall have minimum
recording time of 3 seconds (0.5 seconds for pre-fault and 2.5 seconds for post fault).
v) Each Generating Company shall provide Disturbance recording capability for
Generating Plants in accordance with Central Electricity Authority (Technical
Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Regulations 2022
amended to date, the CEA (Technical Standards for connectivity to the Grid)
Regulations 2007 amended to date.
vi) Each Transmission Licensee and Generating Company shall record for Faults,
sufficient electrical quantities for each monitored Element to determine the
following:
• Three phase-to-neutral voltages. (Common bus-side/line side voltages may
be used for lines.)
• Three phase currents and neutral currents.
• Polarizing currents and voltages, if used (As applicable).
• Frequency (As applicable).
• Real and reactive power (As applicable).
• V sync (Synchronizing voltage) (For TPAR)
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 • Mutual Compensation current (in case of parallel line)
The Minimum parameters to be monitored in the Fault record shall be specified by
the PCSC of SRPC.
vii) Each Transmission Licensee and Generating Company shall provide Disturbance
recording with the following capabilities:
• The Disturbance recorders shall have time synchronization and a standard
format for recording analogue and digital signals (DR labels to be
standardized as per the Report of FOLD Working Group - 3 on DR
Parameter Standardization). The data files shall be capable of being viewed,
read, and analysed with a generic COMTRADE analysis tool as per the latest
revision of IEEE Standard C37.111.

• Each Fault record duration and the trigger timing shall be settable and set for
a minimum 3 second duration including 0.5 seconds for pre-fault and 2.5
seconds for post fault
• Each Fault recorder shall have sampling frequency of 1 kHz or better.
• Each Fault recorder shall be set to trigger for at least the following:
Internal protection trip signals, external trigger input and additional triggers
may be assigned as necessary.
viii) Each Transmission Licensee and Generating Company shall keep the recording
instruments (disturbance recorder and event logger) in proper working condition
and shall establish a maintenance and testing program for Disturbance Recorder
(DR) that includes
• Maintenance and testing intervals and their basis.
• Summary of maintenance and testing procedures.
• Monthly verification of communication channels used for accessing records
remotely (if the entity relies on remote access and the channel is not
monitored to a control centre staffed around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week (24/7)).
• Monthly verification of time synchronization (if the loss of time
synchronization is not monitored to a 24/7 control centre).
• Monthly verification of active analog quantities.
• A requirement to return failed units to service within 90 days. If a
Disturbance Recorder (DR) will be out of service for greater than 90 days,
the Transmission Licensee and Generating Company shall keep a record of
efforts aimed at restoring the DR to service.
ix) The time synchronization of the disturbance recorders shall be corroborated with
the PMU data or SCADA event loggers by SRLDC. SRLDC shall list out for
Disturbance recorders which are non- compliant for discussion in PCSC meetings

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 of SRPC.
x) Each Transmission Licensee and Generating Company shall submit the data files
to the SRLDC conforming to the following format requirements:
• The data files shall be submitted in COMTRADE and PDF format.
• File shall have contained the name of the Relay, name of the Bay, station
name, date, time resolved to milliseconds, event point name, status.
The DR archives shall be retained for a period of three years.
xi) A separate work-station PC, powered through UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply)
shall be identified with access to all the relays for extraction of DR. Auto-
Download facility shall be established for automatic extraction of the DR files to a
location on the work- station PC.
xii) Time Synchronization Equipment
a) Time Synchronizing Equipment complete with antenna, all cables and
processing equipment shall be provided to receive synchronizing pulse through
Global Positioning System or Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
Navic compatible for synchronization of event logger, disturbance recorder,
Phasor Measurement Units, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
System or Substation Automation System.
b) Each substation shall have time synch equipment to synchronize all the
numerical relays installed. Before any extension work, the capability of the
existing Time-sync equipment shall be reviewed to ensure the synchronization
of upcoming numerical relays.
c) The status of healthiness of the time-sync device shall be wired as “Alarm” to
SCADA and as an “Event” to Event Logger.
d) The time synch status of all the installed numerical relays and event logger shall
be monitored monthly and recorded. The Monthly records for relays not in
time-sync shall be reported to SRLDC and SRPC. This record shall be archived
for a period of three years by each concerned agency.
e) Remedial action shall be taken by the concerned substation/ Protection
department immediately to make the relays in time synchronization with
reference to external time source.
f) All the new Grid elements/Bay extension shall have accurate and precise Time
synchronization equipment.
7.2. Disturbance Analysis and Reporting
i) Immediately following an event (grid disturbance or grid incidence as defined in
the CEA Grid Standards) in the system, the concerned user or SLDC shall inform
SRLDC through voice message.
ii) Written flash report shall be submitted to SRLDC and appropriate SLDC by the
concerned Transmission Licensee/Generating Company/User within eight (8)
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 hours from Grid event.
iii) Disturbance Recorder (DR), station Event Logger (EL), Data Acquisition System
(DAS) shall be submitted by the respective Transmission licensee and Generating
Company within twenty-four (24) hours from Grid event. These records shall be
uploaded by the respective Transmission licensee and Generating Company in the
Web Based Tripping Portal of SRLDC.
iv) SRLDC shall classify the grid incidents and grid disturbances according to CEA
(Grid Standards) Regulations, amended to date. SRLDC shall report the event (grid
disturbance or grid incidence) to CEA, SRPC and all regional entities within
twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the flash report.
v) After a complete analysis of the event, the Transmission licensee and Generating
Company/User shall submit a detailed report in the case of grid disturbance or grid
incidence within one (1) week of the occurrence of event to SRLDC and SRPC.
vi) SRLDC shall prepare a draft report of each grid disturbance or grid incidence
including simulation results and analysis which shall be discussed and finalized in
the PCSC meetings of SRPC as per the timeline specified in Table below.
Sl. Grid Event Flash report Disturbance Detailed report Draft report Discussion
(GD/GI record and and data in PCSC and
No submission submission
Classification as station event submission final report
per the CEA deadline log submission deadline by deadline by submission
Grid Standards) (Users/ deadline by Users/ SLDC) SRLDC deadline by
SLDC) Users/ SLDC) SRPC

1 GI-1/GI-2 8 hours 24 hours +7 days +7 days +60 days

2 Near miss event 8 hours 24 hours +7 days +7 days +60 days
3 GD-1 8 hours 24 hours +7 days +7 days +60 days
4 GD-2/GD-3 8 hours 24 hours +7 days +21 days +60 days
5 GD-4/GD-5 8 hours 24 hours +7 days +30 days +60 days

vii) The analysis reports submitted by SRLDC shall be discussed in the Protection
Coordination Sub-Committee (PCSC) meetings of the SRPC. The PCSC shall
identify the lessons learnt during the events being discussed. The PCSC shall
scrutinize the correctness of operation of subject protection systems put in place
by the concerned Constituents and the final analysis repot along with the
recommendations shall be concluded. It shall also recommend the appropriate
remedial measures for system improvement.
viii) The implementation of the recommendations of the final report shall be monitored
by the PCSC of SRPC.
ix) Any additional data such as
• Single line diagram (SLD)
• Protection relay settings,

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 • HVDC transient fault record,
• Location of fault with distance
• Fault details with type & relay indications
• CT/PT/CVT rating details with location
• Bus-bar arrangement/ Configuration of feeders
• CB positions (OPEN/ CLOSE) at the time of fault
• Isolator & Earth-switch positions (OPEN/CLOSE)
• Voltage, frequency & power flows with direction at the time of fault
• DR&EL records
• switchyard equipment
and any other relevant station data required for carrying out analysis of an event
by SRPC, SRLDC and concerned SLDC shall be furnished by the Users including
SRLDC and respective SLDC, as the case may be, within forty- eight (48) hours
of the request. All Users shall also furnish high-resolution analog data from various
instruments including power electronic devices like HVDC, FACTS, renewable
generation (inverter level or WTG level) on the request of SRPCs, NLDC,
SRLDCs or SLDCs.
x) Triggering of STATCOM, TCSC, HVDC run-back, HVDC power oscillation
damping, generating station power system stabilizer and any other controller
system during any event in the grid shall be reported to the SRLDC and SRPC if
connected to ISTS and to the concerned SLDC if connected to an intra-state
system. The transient fault records and event logger data shall be submitted to the
SRLDC or concerned SLDC within 24 hours of the occurrence of the incident.
Generating stations shall submit 1 second resolution active power and reactive
power data recorded during oscillations to SRLDC or concerned SLDC within 24
hours of the occurrence of the oscillations.
xi) A monthly report on events of unintended operation or non-operation of the
protection system shall be prepared and submitted by each user/owner of important
elements in the regional grid, as identified by the appropriate forum of SRPC
including those in the State grids that are critical for regional grid operation to
SRPC and SRLDC within the first week of the subsequent month.
xii) The detailed analysis reports shall be archived periodically. The archive shall be
retained for a period of three years by each concerned agency.
xiii) The Disturbance Analysis and Reporting shall be carried out in line with Central
Electricity Authority (Grid Standards) Regulations, 2010, IEGC Grid Code
Regulations 2023 and as per the revised SOP to address the Grid Disturbances
(GDs)/Grid Incidents (GIs)/any other Protection Tripping’s approved in the
Protection sub group of NPC which is being adopted in all region.
(at Annexure-I).
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8. Protection Audit Plan
i) All Users/Entities connected at 220 kV and above, shall conduct internal audit, as
per the prescribed audit checklist, of their protection systems annually, and any
shortcomings identified shall be rectified and informed to SRPC. The audit report
along with action plan for rectification of deficiencies detected, if any, shall be shared
with SRPC.
ii) All Users /Entities shall also conduct third party protection audit of each sub-station
at 220 kV and above once in five years.
iii) After analysis of any event, PCSC of SRPC may identify a list of substations / and
generating stations where third-party protection audit is required to be carried out
and accordingly advise the respective users to complete third party audit within three
months.
iv) The third party audit report shall contain all the information as in Annexure-1(Third
Party Protection System Checking & Validation Template for a Substation) of CERC
(Indian Electricity Grid Code), Regulations 2023). The protection audit reports,
along with action plan for rectification of deficiencies detected, if any, shall be
submitted to the respective SRPC and SRLDC or respective SLDC, as the case may
be, within a month of submission of third party audit report. The necessary
compliance to such protection audit report shall be followed up regularly in the PCSC
meetings of SRPC.
v) The Protection Audit of the substations connected with ISTS system shall be
carried out in line with the Central Electricity Authority (Grid Standards)
Regulations, 2010, IEGC Grid Code Regulations 2023 and as per the approved
SOP for Protection System Audit of the sub group of RPCs/NPC which is being
adopted in all region. (at Annexure-II).
vi) SRPC shall keep all compliance monitoring reports/audit reports at least for five
years.
vii) Annual audit plan for the next financial year shall be submitted by the Users/entities
to SRPC by 31st October of every year. The users shall adhere to the annual audit
plan and report compliance of the same to SRPC.

9. System Protection Schemes (SPS)

If System Protection Schemes (SPS) is recommended to be implemented by the
appropriate forum/Sub-Committee of SRPC on account of operational & system
constraints, the same shall be implemented by the concerned Transmission
licensee/Generating Company/Entities within the specified timelines. The provisions
related to SPS as mentioned in CEA regulations and CERC (IEGC) 2023 regulations and
their amendments from time to time shall be followed.

10. Performance Monitoring of the Protection Systems

10.1. Users/Entities shall submit the following protection performance indices of previous
month to SRPC and SRLDC on monthly basis for 220 kV and above by 15 th # of the
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 subsequent month and the same shall be reviewed in the ensuing PCSC meeting of
SRPC.
[ #amended as per the MoM of 111th PCSC Meeting held on 05.10.2023]

a) The Dependability Index defined as

𝑁𝐶
𝐷=
𝑁𝐶 + 𝑁𝐹

Where, 𝑁C is the number of correct operations at internal power system faults and
𝑁F is the number of failures to operate at internal power system faults.

b) The Security Index defined as

𝑁𝐶
𝑆=
𝑁𝐶 + 𝑁𝑈

Where, 𝑁C is the number of correct operations at internal power system faults and
𝑁U is the number of unwanted operations.

c) The Reliability Index defined as

𝑁𝐶
𝑅=
𝑁𝐶 + 𝑁𝐼

Where, 𝑁C is the number of correct operations at internal power system faults and
𝑁I is the number of incorrect operations and is the sum of 𝑁F and 𝑁U

10.2. Users/Entities shall furnish the reasons for performance indices less than unity of
individual element wise protection system to the SRPC and action plan for corrective
measures. The action plan will be followed up regularly in the PCSC Meetings.
11. Compliance Monitoring
11.1. The Protection Protocol of SR shall be reviewed as and when required, in consultation
with the stakeholders of the Southern Region.
11.2. Violation of the Protection Protocol of the Southern Region shall be brought to the
notice of SRPC by the SRLDC or concerned SLDC, as the case may be.
11.3. In case any User/Entity fails to comply with the Protection Protocol or fails to
undertake remedial action identified by the PCSC of SRPC within the specified
timelines, the SRPC would approach the Commission with all relevant details for
suitable directions.
***

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