Rationalise power subsidy, promote alternate sources

What steps should be taken to ensure that residents don’t reel under long power cuts?

Focus on real-time monitoring of supply

The local administration should have made alternate arrangements to provide uninterrupted electricity to consumers. In the long-term, loss-making electricity distribution utilities should be revived under the UDAY (Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) scheme. In order to achieve 24×7 power for all, we need to focus on real-time monitoring of supply at the end-user level as it will help track the ground reality of electricity supply. Improving maintenance services, estimation of adequate demand and respective power procurement will also go a long way in reducing load shedding. Last but not least, a significant improvement in customer service, which includes billing, metering and collection, is also crucial to maintain financial stability.

Akash Kumar

Boost production capacity

Our industries are already suffering due to the pandemic and farmers’ protest, which resulted into discontinuation of freight train services. Now, the PSPCL has imposed three-days off in a week for large industries. With fuel prices shooting up, it is no more viable to run the industries on gensets. Most of the industries in Amritsar and Ludhiana are seasonal catering to woollen products demand and this is the peak season for manufacturing the same. Further, export-oriented units have to supply goods as per strict delivery schedule. Farmers also need continuous power supply to run the pumping sets for the paddy crop. Surprisingly, the installed capacity of the PSPCL is 13,845 MW whereas total generation from all sources is only 9,000 MW. The state government must cope up with a plan to tackle the shortage of power supply.

Naresh Johar

Purchase power from surplus states

In order to ensure that residents don’t reel under unscheduled power cuts, the state government should increase the production of thermal power stations to meet the demand. Secondly, it should purchase electricity from other states too. Last but not the least, contracts should be given to private operators so that there are no unscheduled power cuts in the state.

Sanjay Chawla

Complete repair work during off season

Unscheduled power cuts cripple both industry and agriculture sector. Since, we are dependent on hydroelectricity which in turn is dependent on monsoon we are always short of production in case of rainfall defcit. Alternate source should be looked into such as solar energy. Subsidy on solar power should be given to set up more plants. Thermal plants should be prepared, repaired and coal stock should be ensured before summers. In case, the demand exceeds supply, there should be agreement with neighbouring states having surplus electricity to get it during peak times. All repair work, including laying of wires, service of transformers should be done in winters. The areas which need high input should be marked. Special attention should be given on those areas from where cases of power theft are reported.

Jaspreet Grover

Distribution losses should be reduced

The rampant pilferage of electricity coupled with free and subsidised power supply to rural belts of Punjab has led to the uneven distribution of electricity to urban areas. Around 66 per cent of power thefts are from rural Punjab. This open loot of electricity via ‘kundi ‘connection has resulted in revenue losses to the exchequer. The present power crisis in the state is due to internal mismanagement of the PSPCL. To tackle the problem following measures can be taken. Distribution losses should be reduced for that focus should be on developing infrastructure. Electricity production should be ramped up by utilising the full capacity of plants. Make use of renewable alternative source of power to reduce dependency on hydro or thermal plants . Nuclear power plants are also a good option. Scrap the OTS (one time settlement policy) announced by various govts. as it is only an tool to benefit the big defaulters namely the political connect class to escape punishment clause.

Anil Vinayak

High time to switch to renewable sources

The solution to the problem of power cuts lies in managing and controlling the production and distribution of electricity. Increasing transmission capacity, removal of glitches in the system and forecasting the snags during the peak season. Though increasing the capacity of thermal plants can provide a solution for the time being, there is a dire need to switch over to sustainable and affordable renewable energy resources such as natural and biogas, water, wind and solar energy. The government should give subsidy and promote small hydroelectric projects by involving individuals and private enterprises. There is an immediate need for wind mapping in the state to assess and exploit the wind potential. Storage type solar plants to harness energy be promoted. Solar plants on the roof tops not only meet the domestic demand but can also produce extra energy to be transferred to the main grid.

ANIL KHANNA

Purchase power from National Grid

It’s unfortunate that residents of Punjab are getting their domestic power@Rs 10/unit and despite that the government failed to provide uninterrupted power supply to consumers. It is shocking that on the one hand the government claims to have surplus power and on the other hand power cuts are imposed on industries, domestic residents and farmers. Farmers have been compelled to use generators which will lead to higher consumption of diesel. The government should purchase the power from the National Grid at economical rate. The government should promote use of renewable sources of energy such as biogas, solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal energy, hydrogen energy, among others to meet the rising demand.

Ankur Gupta

Faulty power lines should be replaced

It is baffling that Punjab, which claims to be a power surplus state, is imposing unscheduled power cuts amid an intense heat wave which is playing havoc across the state. Every section of society should be charged @?5 per unit irrespective of their class or category. Power theft in villages should be prevented. Faulty power lines should be replaced and chinks in the infrastructure should be plugged to avert long power cuts . The government should plan in advance to generate the requisite amount of electricity to mitigate the woes of the residents. Power generation system ought to be overhauled and electricity should be purchased from power surplus states to save the residents from the agony of unscheduled power cuts . Negligent electricity officials should be taken to task for not managing the power affairs of their respective areas appropriately. Air-conditioners should be banned in government offices to curb the undue misuse of electricity. Strenuous efforts should be made to install solar panels and should be made compulsory for bigger mansions. Fresh surveys should be conducted to check an overall household electricity consumption. Besides worn out and dysfunctional transformers should be replaced with the new ones . The Electricity Department should be instructed not to ignore residents’ frantic calls. Power cut information should be provided well in advance. Residents should be impressed upon to make a judicious use of electricity.

Tarsem S Bumrah

Install smart meters in every household

The world is moving towards renewable sources of energy, with Tesla being a great example that has revolutionised the autmobile industry. We should also switch from thermal power plants to sources such as solar, wind and hydopower. Thermal power plants (TPPs) produce cause water and air pollution. Many reports say that the theft of electricity is very rampant in Punjab, particularly in rural areas. Smart metres must be installed as soon as possible in every household. Recently, we have seen how many units of the TPPs malfunctioned causing a great distress to the people. Solar panels must be mandatory for every house so that these can be used as an additional source of power.

Jatinderpal Singh Batth

Raise awareness on saving power

Due to power cuts in Punjab, people had to take to the streets to protest. To deal with the power crisis, the government needs to increase the power transmission capacity so that there will be no difficulty in importing power from other states. The public should be educated about saving electricity and water through TV, radio, newspapers and social media. Farmers should be encouraged to plant other crops besides paddy as it consumes more water. Therefore, electricity consumption is higher. By revoking the agreements of private thermal plants in Punjab in the Vidhan Sabha, the money saved can be used to buy electricity and solve the power crisis. The government should appoint a regular CMD of the PSPCL so that he can easily find a solution to the problem like power crisis.

Sucha Sagar

PSPCL should Appoint adequate staff

To tackle the situation, there are some ways which should be taken by the government. It is the foremost responsibility of the government to provide adequate amount of electricity power to the people. But, overdependence on private units, shortage of manpower and ignoring experts advices has led to the present situation. To cope up with it, it should install its own electricity units and increase manpower in this sector. In addition, most states have some financial incentives to support or subsidise the installation of renewable energy equipment. The government should encourage people to take benefits of these incentives by spreading awareness.

Harsimrat Kaur

Freebies behind power shortage in state

• Freebies like free electricity to farmers or any section of society is one of the main causes of unscheduled power cuts. Anything given for free leads to its misuse and wastage. It has become a political gimmick to promise freebies by all political parties, so when any of these parties come in power, they try to fulfil the promises they had made.
• The result is that during summer and heat waves, any installed power capacity falls short of demand because those getting free power consume much more than even their requirements and needs. Due to overloading, there are breakdowns and resulting in outages.
• Instead of free power to farmers or others, their power supply rates can be reduced to some extent. This will certainly reduce the power consumption by those who have to pay the power bill at reduced rates. However, proper and regular maintenance of the power lines and transformers during winter, when power demand is much less, will go a long way in avoiding power failures due to line defect outages.
• Promises of free power made by political parties must be banned by the Election Commission.

LJ Singh, (retd) Chief Engineer (IMM)

QUESTION

Amid fears of an impending third Covid wave, should the Punjab Government wait for some more time before opening of educational institutions in the state?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (July 22).