Paddy season at fag end,PSEB now buys less power

But even after reduced load,the state is facing seven hours’ power cut in urban areas,though the authorities had promised that the situation would improve after September 15.

Irked urban consumers are upset that while the PSEB has increased the power tariff on one hand,they are still imposing cuts. During the paddy season,the purchase of power was up to 650 LUs per day.

The consumers complain that while the board generously purchased power during the paddy season to facilitate farmers at rates as high as Rs 7.5 per unit,when it came to providing comfort to urban consumers,their austerity measures started.

The board authorities are waiting for the temperatures to take a dip,when the consumption will automatically reduce and result in less or no cut.

According to information available from PSEB sources,the total demand of electricity these days is more than 1,700 LUs against the availability of about 1,450 LUs.

K D Chaudhary,member generation,PSEB,however,justified the cuts imposed after September 15. He said: “The temperature has increased all of a sudden and at the same time our tubewell load has not reduced completely. Hence,the demand is still there. We are not imposing any weekly off on industry these days and to compensate it,cuts are being imposed in urban areas. These cuts will not last for more than a week.”