PSPCL cuts losses, betters rank; placed 7th among state utilities
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has improved its performance and is now placed seventh among the state utilities and 12th among 52 power utilities across the country.
The PSPCL has been upgraded to grade “A” from last year’s grade “B”. Both power corporations of Haryana and four of Gujarat have maintained their A+ grade in the 13th annual ranking report.
The state power utility improved its ranking this year as the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, which are the sum of energy losses and commercial losses in the power distribution system, decreased from 11.26 per cent to 10.96 per cent,
“The billing efficiency has also increased from 88.74 per cent to 89.27 per cent and average cost of supply and revenue receipt gap has improved by 0.25 paise per unit,” said a senior PSPCL official.
In the overall ranking, Haryana (UHBVN and DHBVN), Orissa (TPWODL, TPNOWL and TPCOWL), Kerala (KSEBL) and Punjab (PSPCL) topped the rankings.
This year, 11 of the 52 power utilities got A+ rating, comprising six state-owned and five private companies. Five companies, including one private company, got “A” grade, including PSPCL.
In 2024, Punjab had alleged bias by the Centre after a drop in the PSPCL’s position in the 12th national annual ranking report. The utility had slipped to “B” grade and was positioned 20th, down from the 16th rank in 2023.
Experts say the ranking will go a long way in putting forth the state Power Department’s demand for the release of more grants by the Centre. “The lower the ranking, the more difficult it becomes for the state power utilities to put forth demands for more financial aid,” they say.
