In run-up to assembly election, state to remain power surplus
Jangveer Singh/TNS

Chandigarh, June 30
Punjab is set to remain power surplus in the run-up to the assembly elections and has for the first time in 10 years done away with the weekly off imposed on the industry.

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has not only doubled power banking arrangements with other states as compared to last year, but has also gone in for short-term purchase of Rs 1,000 crore, its managing director-cum-chairman KD Chaudhari said. He claimed that despite more power being purchased this year, the cost was less because the state had gone in for purchases in January. “This gave us leverage and we were able to purchase power at Rs 4 per unit as compared to a rate of Rs 6.07 per unit purchased last year,” he added.

Against a projected power purchase figure of Rs 6,300 crore submitted in its annual revenue receipt to the Regulatory Commission, the utility may now purchases power worth only Rs 5,000 crore due to its present comfortable position, he said. The timely arrival of the monsoon and the staggered transplantation of paddy due to labour shortage have resulted in a problem of plenty for the PSPCL. Right now, it has closed down four thermal plant units — two at Ropar and one each at Lehra Mohabbat and Bathinda. It is also surrendering 50 to 60 lakh units daily out of its allocation from the central sector.

The excess power has, however, emboldened the power utility to do away with the mandatory weekly off for the industrial sector. It has also decided to release loads of 250 MW in Mandi Gobindgarh industrial area and 150 MW in Ludhiana. This would bring in revenue to the Board and offset the burden imposed by heavy purchases.

Chaudhari maintained there was no scheduled power cut in the state since April this year and that this position would continue for the rest of the year. He said power disruptions had, however, happened due to inclement weather on a few occasions.