Comptroller & Auditor General report: Power generation shortfall led to Rs 764-cr loss
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged a shortfall in power generation by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited to the extent of 1,175 million units during 2019-22 against the stipulated target, leading to a loss of Rs 764 crore.
Moreover, annual maintenance activities undertaken beyond the lean period resulted in generation loss of 384.42 million units, while delay in the execution of various works resulted in avoidable generation loss of another 64.69 million units valuing Rs 42 crore.
“Loss of generation occurred due to inefficient operations of powerhouse, delay in execution of repair and maintenance work, forced shutdowns and carrying of annual repair and maintenance beyond the lean season,” the CAG observed in its report tabled before the state legislature on September 4.
“The company had not evolved any mechanism of inventory management such as fixing of inventory level of various spares according to their rate of consumption and criticality, ensuring timely availability of adequate number of critical spare and vital components. There was shortage of technically qualified manpower in the powerhouse and no formal training programmes were arranged,” the CAG observed.
It revealed that from 2019-20 to 2021-22, the shortfall in three hydro-power generating units was 1,175 million units on account of forced shutdown, delay in carrying out major repair and capital maintenance work, annual maintenance during peak period and less availability of water.
The state government had maintained that the targets could not be achieved as the same had been fixed by the Central Electricity Agency (CEA) on assumption basis and were not backed by scientific basis. This was not accepted by the CAG as the CEA fixes targets after considering all standards and parameters.
The CAG also pointed out that higher transmission losses were due to installation of single-phase instead of three-phase generator transformers and old generator transformers that have outlived their life, to which the state government responded that remedial measures were being undertaken.