Bizmen furious as Ludh factories asked to pay Rs 2 extra between 6-10pm

Ludhiana: The decision of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to impose an additional Rs 2 per unit for usage of power between 6pm and 10pm in factories has created quite an uproar among industrialists. The charge has been imposed on large supply(LS), medium supply (MS) and NRS (commercial) category of meters and its being charged retrospectively from June 1 and will continue till September 30. Most realised that they were being charged extra only after receiving their bills for June.
However, PSPCL authorities said they had already issued a circular in this regard in June.
According to the circular which has been issued on June 3 by the deputy chief engineer, sales, PSPCL, “Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has decided that for financial year 2020-21 , Time of day (ToD) tariff shall be applicable to NRS/BS consumers with sanctioned demand of more than 100 KVA, all LS/MS consumers, including rural water supply schemes and compost, solid waste management plants and EV charging stations, from June 1 till September 30 normal tariff plus Rs 2 per KVAH will be applicable between 6pm till 10pm.”
Lashing out against PSPCL, Jaswinder Thukral, president of Janta Nagar Small Scale Manufacturers’ Association, said, “This is a well planned conspiracy by PSPCL and PSERC to destroy the industry of Punjab which is evident from the fact that recently the PSERC cancelled the decision of state government to waive off the fixed charges for two months during the lockdown period and now the burden of Rs 2 per unit has been imposed on us. Everyone knows that industry is passing through worst phase due to coronavirus and huge losses have been incurred by us as there was no business activity for months.”
Thukral also added, “Crores of rupees worth money will be extorted by PSPCL by imposing these charges on us which is totally unjustified and we will not sit silently. Soon we are going to meet chairpersons of PSPCL and PSERC to lodge our protest against this decision and seek justice. If they do not do anything, we will be forced to protest against both the departments”
According to Upkar Singh Ahuja, president of Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), “PSPCL has once again acted arbitrarily and ordered us to pay Rs 2 per unit in addition to the normal tariff if we use power between 6pm and 10pm. Though the order is valid only till September 30, micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) units will not be able to bear the burden in these tough times when most are already facing huge and unprecedented recession due to coronavirus. It is unfortunate that instead of providing electricity at Rs 5 per unit to us, the government is silently letting PSPCL rob us by increasing power charges every other day. Now, this will not be tolerated by us and we will take up this matter with chief minister and seek his intervention in getting this order of additional power charges cancelled.”