KSEBOA - KSEB Officers' Association

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Punjab is at the verge of severe power crisis and it is expected that long power cuts would be imposed from May onward. The  Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB)  has sought the permission of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) to impose power cuts in Punjab to bridge the gap between demand and supply. The PSEB sources said that board in a petition filed before PSERC has contended that the board would not be able to meet the unrestricted power supply to consumers as the power availability is less than power demand and has proposed a daily power cut of 2.45 hours in the major cities and district head quarters of state.

PSERC has invited objections on PSEB proposal from public with in fifteen days.Even in the month of  April PSEB has sought the imposition of power cuts but due to ongoing Parliament elections no power cut is being imposed to keep the voters in good humor. Once the election process is over the power cuts would be back with vengeance. As per data submitted by PSEB to PSERC the average power availability for next four months from May to August would be 1074 lakh units, 1317 lakh units 1595 lakh units and 1511 lakh units respectively. The daily average power demand during same period would be 1133 lakh units, 1356 lakh units , 1781 lakh units and 1597 lakh units respectively.

PSEB plans to supply 8 hour daily three phase supply to farmers in the month of June July and August. At present it is supplying three phase power supply for 4 hours daily.  Even the peak demand of 6,330 MW in May and 7,510 MW in June, the peak load power availability would be 4,880 MW and 5,910 MW respectively, according to official documents. PSEB has an installed capacity of 6,841 Mw, while the demand is about 9,000 MW, resulting in a shortfall of about 2,200 Mw.

To fill the deficit, the state electricity board has signed agreements with Tata Power Trading Company, NTPC and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd among other for the purchase of 591 MW. PSEB has also entered into banking system with Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Orissa. Punjab supplies power to them during winter and gets back power during the paddy season.

Punjab Government is developing thermal plants at Rajpura, Gidderbaha, Talwandi Sabo, and Goindwal Sahib but these projects are not likely to commence operation in next three years. Sterlite Energy Ltd has been work for the 2,000 MW Talwandi Sabo project, Lanco is the lone bidder for Rajpura thermal project while GVK is setting up a 540 Mw thermal power plant at Goindwal Sahib. The Gidderwaha thermal project is still in initial stages and may take time to allot the project to a private company.


Source - Punjab Newsline