Punjab’s power craving shrinks 8% in rainy, colder March

PATIALA: After a freezing January and a warm February surged it, a rainy and colder March reduced Punjab’s electricity consumption by 8% from last year, to 4,252 million units from 4,617 MU. The maximum demand this March was 8,880 megawatts, only 5% more than the corresponding period in 2022.
Punjab got much higher average rainfall this March. Patiala recorded it at 107.5 millimetres as opposed to zero in March 2022, while Ludhiana recorded 76.4mm rainfall compared with 0.8mm last year, and Amritsar recorded 41.6mm rainfall compared with 2.2mm received last year. The maximum temperature this March was two to three degrees lower than last year’s figure. Punjab’s power demand had increased by about 1,000 MW in January and February from last year’s corresponding figures, a respective jump of 23 and 19%, while the respective maximum power demand met this January and February was 28 and 25% more than last year.
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) reported 6.55% surge in the maximum power demand met, while the state consumed 69,204 MU from April 2022 to March 2023, compared with 62,386 MUs used from April 2021 to March 2022. “Excess rainfall and the hailstorms in some parts of Punjab this March is the main factor that lowered power consumption, but in the coming paddy season, the demand can exceed last year’s figure by 1,000 MW. The demand could be 15,000 to 16,000 MW, while the state’s total installed capacity, including of the independent power producers (IPP), is 8,146 MW.
The central sector contributes 4,129 MW and the Bhakra Beas Mangement Board (BBMB) 1,133 MW. A senior PSPCL officer said: “The total gross capacity, including that of the NRSE (new and renewable sources of energy) and private suppliers outside Punjab is 14,590 MW.”