Punjab uses 65% more power than last year

PATIALA: The continuous rise in temperature this year has increased the power demand in the state, especially in the domestic urban sector. In comparison to last year, Punjab has witnessed a rise in demand of power up to 65% while the PSPCL has supplied up to 70% more power to domestic urban consumers this year.
According to the official data, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has supplied the urban domestic sector around 60-70% more power than last year in the month of May. Similarly, the commercial sector consumers witnessed 55-65% rise and rural consumers witnessed 30-35% rise in power supplied to them this month so far. However, the agriculture pumpset (AP) consumers were supplied around 25-30% of more power whereas the industrial sector consumers were supplied 5-11% more power from May 1 to 12 this year.
On May 10, 11 and 12 this year, Punjab witnessed power demand of 1,0401 MW, 10,063 MW and 10,495 MW respectively whereas last year in the corresponding period the state had witnessed 6,640 MW, 6,545 MW and 6,374 MW from May 10 to 12 last year respectively. The state power utility has also supplied around 41% more power to its various category consumers this month across the state. Last year, from May 1 to 12, the PSPCL supplied 1,762 MU of power whereas this year it had supplied around 2,483 MU of power to its consumers from May 1 to 12.
Notably, in the month of March and April, the state power utility supplied around 14% and 32% more power than last year to its consumers across the state.
PSPCL officials claimed that the state power corporation is meeting the demand of all categories of consumers, but coal stocks in the thermals are not building up due to extraordinary demand. They said that efforts to get maximum possible coal for the thermals were being made.
In view of coal shortage prevailing throughout the country and consistent increase in demand, the PSPCL has appealed its consumers across the state to switch off air conditioners, lights, devices, domestic and agriculture pumpsets when not required; and keep temperature setting of ACs above 26 degrees Celsius. The firm has also appealed that shunt capacitors of sufficient capacity be installed on motors of agriculture pumpsets and industrial loads.
PSPCL officials claimed that theft of electricity in addition to increase in distribution losses also resulted in rise in tariff due to low revenue collection, increasing the burden on consumers. PSPCL has appealed to consumers, NGOs, and informers to help control the menace of theft of power by providing feedback about theft of electricity. As on Thursday, the coal stock in the state run GGSST Ropar Power plant and GHTP Lehra Mohabbat power plant is 2.6 days and three days respectively, while the cumulative PLF of GGSSTP Ropar was 68.85% and GHTP Lehra Mohabbat was 59.44%.