PSPCL to check misuse of farm power

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 23

Concerned over the increasing instances of misuse of agricultural power (AP) connections all across the state, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has issued strict directions to the field staff to curb the use of farm power (tubewell connection) – supplied free of cost against government subsidy – for domestic or any other purpose.

The supervisory officials have been asked to keep an eye on such AP connections that are located within the boundary of houses or where a boundary wall has been constructed after the release of tube well connections and take appropriate action to ensure that farm power supply is not used for any other purpose.

In an official memo (no 162-187/38/PS/CE/ENF/0017 dated April 22, 2019), the PSPCL Chief Engineer/Commercial has instructed the zonal and operational heads that in such cases where tube well connections are located within the boundary of houses or boundary wall has been constructed later, a notice would be given to the consumers to get the premises of their AP connections separated properly from their domestic (DS), NRS (commercial) or industrial connections or else get their AP connections shifted to a separate premises within 30 days.

In case of non-compliance, all such AP connections ought to be disconnected and action would be taken against the consumer for misuse of free (subsidised) power supply, the memo says.

The field officials of the power utility have been further asked to carry out random check of all tube well connections within their respective jurisdiction and in case of misuse of farm power, action as per provisions of Section 126 of the Electricity Act 2003 be taken against the defaulting consumers.

The PSPCL has also directed that no AP connection would be released on the premises, where DS or any other category connection already existed and similarly no DS, commercial or industrial connection would be provided on the premises already having a tube well connection.