HT
PSEB set to register three new companies
Bahadurjeet Singh
RUPNAGAR

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) is all set to be split into three com- panies before the expiry of the April 15 deadline for unbundling.
According to sources, the three companies to be carved out of the board will be for power generation, one for transmis- sion and distribution, and one holding company.

The process of registration of the new companies is likely to be completed in the next few days, following which the government will issue the notifi- cation necessary to unbundle the PSEB.

PSEB engineers have been pressing for the formation of a single company to look after generation, transmission and distribution, which is permis- sible as per a judgment of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity. The engineers had also suggested that a separate trading company could be carved out to meet the provi- sions of Electricity Act, 2003.

According to sources, the government had sought legal opinion on the proposal, and was told that converting the PSEB into a single company was not tenable. The govern- ment then conveyed the view to various stakeholders.

The PSEB management has also cancelled the leave of all administrative heads to meet any exigencies. A general man- ager of a thermal plant, mov- ing on leave travel concession, was even called back from Delhi airport. Various chief engineers in distribution and thermal plants are holding meetings with their superintending engi- neers to discuss the unbundling process.