Punjab: PSPCL purchased power at Rs 2.22 per unit at a record low price from Power Exchange

LUDHIANA: While availing the advantage of low prices of power at Power exchange, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has purchased 302 MW of Power from Power exchange at the rate Rs 2.22 per unit with a total quantity of 70.22 lac units on August 1, this year.
PSPCL Chairman cum Managing Director A Venu Prasad said that whenever, opportunity arises, PSPCL is purchasing power at cheaper rates in its endeavour to reduce cost of supply for its consumers.
While sharing details of power purchase from open market, CMD informed that PSPCL has procured 355 MUs of power from the open market @ Rs. 3.06 per unit from onset of paddy season to June 30 this year, while during the July, power purchase of 503 MUs has been made @ Rs. 3.24 per unit. He added that the arrival of monsoon coupled with efficient power procurement arrangements have now resulted in a comfortable power supply position in the State.
A Venu Prasad added that the PSPCL has procured huge quantity of Power from the Power Exchange due to failure of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd. (TSPL), Mansa in the paddy season. He said, “The TSPL remained out for continuous three days in July month. Presently, only two units of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd. are operational. These factors have caused a huge power shortage in the Punjab. In order to guard the commercial aspect, PSPCL has also enhanced the available transfer capability (ATC) Limit to 7700 MW to facilitate more power purchase from various sources located outside the State. This has encouraged PSPCL in reducing overall purchase cost by 30 to 40 paise in the year 2021-22.”
The present Peak demand of power in the state has been reduced from 14,000 MW plus to 10,100 MWs on Sunday at 8.15 PM. As a result of reduced demand all four units of state run GH Thermal Plant Lehra Mohabbat and GGSS Thermal plant Ropar and two units of private GVK Thermal Plant at Goindwal Sahib remained closed.