At Re 1 per unit, hydro power generation at an all time high as water level increases in dams

The heavy inflow of rain water from the hills in the three dams, means more hydro power generation, though release from dams has flooded parts of the state. Hydro power is the cheapest source and with least financial burden on consumers as compared to thermal and solar power, which costs high.

According to information collected from the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), there is optimum utilisation of resources resulting in maximum power generation at Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar due to higher water level.

Due to increased water level in reservoirs, all power houses at Bhakra Dam, Pong Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam are generating maximum power to make full use of water. The water released in rivers through turbines at all power houses is also at the maximum level. Hydro power is cheaper as compared to the thermal power and the solar power—which is signed at high rates in Punjab.

The Ranjit Sagar is generating 83.8 LU (lakh units) with all the four machines running. The maximum generation on Sunday was 600 MW (mega watts) with an average generation of 348 MW.

At Bhakra, the generation is 329 LU with maximum generation of 1,428 MW and average generation of day was 1,353 MW.

The Pong power house is operating all six units with generation of 84.5 LU. The maximum and average generation on Sunday was 360 MW and 356 MW, respectively.

The water level in Ranjit Sagar Dam is 526.78 meters (1728.3 feet ), an increase of 2.7 meters ( 8.8 feet) in one day from yesterday's level of 524.09 m (1719.4 feet ). The water inflow has also increased to more than 1,01,500 cusecs while it was 16,200 cusecs day before.

The water level at Bhakra Dam is 1,668.2 feet, an increase of one feet from yesterday's level of 1,667.12. The inflow at Bhakra is 59,300 cusecs today and it was 46,400 cusecs yesterday.

At Pong, the water level is 1,383.8 feet, an increase of 1.6 feet in one day. The inflow is 91,400 cusecs and it was 42,900 cusecs a day before. At 1668.2 feet, there has been an increase of one foot from yesterday's level of 1667.12. The inflow at Bhakra is 59,300 cusecs today and it was 46,400 cusecs yesterday.

At Pong, the water level is 1,383.8 feet, an increase of 1.6 feet in one day. The inflow is 91,400 cusecs and it was 42,900 cusecs a day before. However, the dam gates were opened many times in the past few days to release excess water.

The generation cost of power is almost equal in across the country but Punjab fares badly in terms of bringing power cost down as it has fixed charges to pay to private sector thermal plants and sustain itself on loans. The solar power is costlier as the average rate exceeds Rs 8 per unit. The cost of thermal power cost is around Rs 3 per unit and hydropower is less than Re 1 per unit.