PSPCL meets all-time record demand of 15,151 MW without power cuts

Power demand in Punjab has been steadily increasing, and PSPCL has been able to meet the demand. On Wednesday, Punjab’s power demand reached 14,962 MW, with a supply of 3,331 lakh units. PSPCL purchased 214 lakh units to meet the power demand. Even during the evening peak, the demand remained at 14,377 MW.

The coal stock at Lehra Mohabatt and Ropar thermal plants is sufficient for 25 and 43 days, respectively. In the private sector, Rajpura thermal plant has a stock for 35 days, Talwandi Sabo for seven days, and GVK plant for only 3-4 days.

The water level in the hydro plants’ reservoir is better than last year’s level (on the same day). The water level in Bhakra reservoir is 1,577 feet, which is 9.5 feet higher than last year’s level of 1,567.5 feet. At Ranjit Sagar, the water level is 511.97 meters, an increase of more than 6.7 meters compared to last year’s level of 505.2 meters.

Data from PSPCL revealed that on June 27, 2022, the PSPCL set a new record by meeting the maximum power demand of 14,207 MW. In 2021, the highest power demand reached 14,142 MW on June 30.

PSPCL sources informed that between 2018 and 2020, the maximum power demand on any single day ranged from 12,542 MW to 13,700 MW, while there were days when the demand exceeded this and could not be met.

V K Gupta, a retired PSPCL engineer and expert on power issues, stated that Thursday’s demand and supply were the highest ever in the history of the power board, and the best part was that no scheduled power cuts were announced in any part of the state.

Punjab had announced four phases of paddy sowing, starting from June 10. In the initial phase, farmers with land along the international border received eight hours of power supply to sow paddy. The second phase (starting from June 16) included sevendistricts – Ferozepur, Faridkot, Pathankot, Fatehgarh, Gurdaspur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, and Tarn Taran – which also received eight-hour power supply. In the third and fourth phases on June 19 and June 21, respectively, the remaining 16 districts were allowed to transplant the paddy, ensuring uninterrupted power supply for eight hours, as promised by the government.

Only brief power cuts are being imposed for maintenance purposes and due to local or area-specific faults in some areas.