Cold wave, dry spell push power demand, consumption in Punjab

“Power cuts in various parts of the state were observed in the past 3-4 days, especially in domestic supply in rural and urban areas, despite the fact that agriculture load is very less these days,” said Darshan Singh, a resident of Fazilka, while talking to The Indian Express.

PSPCL sources revealed that solar generation has come down due to foggy conditions. Ranjit Sagar Dam – a 600-MW hydel unit of PSPCL – has been closed for one month (since January 15) for construction works at Shahpur Kandi Dam (Pathankot). Also, one unit of Talwandi thermal plant generating 680 MW of electricity had a breakdown for three days. Ranjit Sagar Dam is in Pathankot on the border of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.

Punjab power consumption and demand

“All these resulted in some shortage of power during morning and evening hours for two days. Now, Talwandi unit is back in action (since Thursday evening), besides all other thermal units. And so the power situation has normalised,” a PSPCL official said, adding that the power situation was back to normal since Republic Day, meeting the high demand from electricity consumers. From January 1 to January 26 this year PSPCL had met a power demand of 9,546 MW (on average) compared to 9,089 MW during the corresponding period last year, marking a 5% increase in power demand in the first 26 days of 2024.

According to PSPCL, the high demand for power started increasing from January 19 onwards. PSPCL met a 10% more demand for power on January 19 (9,546 MW) this year compared to last year (8,677 MW). On January 20 this year the power corporation met 19% more demand for electricity vis-a-vis the same date last year. Similarly, on January 21, January 22, January 23 and January 24 this year, PSPCL met 16%, 21%, 15% and 19% more demand for power, respectively, when compared to the corresponding dates of January 2023.

The figures of PSPCL revealed that from January 1 to January 26 (this year), on average a total of 4,167 million units (mu) of power was consumed in the first 26 days of January 2024 compared to 3,918 mu during the corresponding period last year (2023), that is, 6% more than last year.

The power consumption increased considerably from January 19 onwards because of a dip in temperature followed by a dry spell and foggy conditions. On January 26 this year consumers used 164 mu of power compared to 128 mu last year, marking a 28% increase this year. While on January 25 this year the users consumed 172 mu of power compared to 141 mu last year (that is, 22% more compared to last year), on January 24 this year the power consumption was 161 mu compared to 146 mu last year, that is, 10% more this year. Also, from January 20-January 23 this year, 11% more power was consumed each day compared to corresponding dates last year. On January 19 the power consumed was 163 mu this year compared to 157 mu last year, marking a 4% increase this year.

Since July 2022 the free power guarantee came into being in Punjab, that is, 300 units per month free power for domestic users. This guarantee was announced by the AAP during the assembly election campaign. As a large chunk of domestic consumers comes under this free-power ambit, the demand and consumption of electricity have increased considerably after this sop came into effect, sources said, adding that many consumers who otherwise used to utilise up to 200 units only a month, have also started using 300 units a month owing to the free-power scheme, leading to a rise in power consumption in the state. As on date, all the thermal power plants in Punjab are functional except the 210-mw Lehra Mohabbat government-owned unit.