Power demand in Punjab crosses 1825 lakh unit
merinews.com
There are no power cuts in Punjab in this election year though the power demand has already exceeded 1825 lakh units. PSPCL has made elaborate power purchase arrangements.
CJ: V K Gupta

Fri, Jun 17, 2011
DUE TO prevailing humid conditions in North India and the start of paddy season, the demand of power in Punjab on Thursday crossed 1825 lakh units.

The peak demand of power is hovering around 7950 mega watt, whereas, it was around 7700 MW during the same season last year. The peak demand met was 7789 MW and there was a shortage of 150 MW during peak load hours as per CEA website.

This year PSPCL had made elaborate power purchase arrangements in this election year and they are able to meet the power demand without cuts. Punjab had to back down its own units whenever there is crash in power demand due to stormy and rainy conditions in the northern region.

The scheduled drawl from grid is 1015 lakh units, whereas, the actual drawl was 1099 lakh units and the over drawl was 84 lakh units.

Punjab has entered in to bi-lateral power purchase agreements with different state under banking system. Punjab is getting 289 lakh units daily under this arrangement. PSPCL has also made arrangements for procurement of 2,500 million units of power under banking arrangements with other states, including Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, etc.

PSPCL has entered into agreements with Power Trading Corporation (PTC) and
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN)) for buying 3200 million units of power, which would be supplied during June 10 till October 10 to the state. Today, state is drawing 630 MW through power exchanges totalling more than 150 lakh units a day.

The power allocation to Punjab from Interstate generating stations was 2119 MW, thus supplying 509 lakh units of power daily.

The thermal units of state are supplying 495 lakh units with one unit of Ropar thermal plant down due to boiler leakage.