Punjab: Power demand stays over 16K for fourth consecutive day

The power consumption in the state stood above 16,000 MW for the fourth consecutive day. At 16,534 MW, the power demand remained higher than Thursday when it touched 16,300 MW.

While the demand soared to 16,711 MW on June 11, it had plummeted to 16,192 MW on June 10.

Experts said due to intense heatwave and sowing of paddy, electricity demand would surpass Punjab State Power Corporation Limited’s (PSPCL) capacity of 17,000 MW.

However, PSPCL CMD Ajoy Sinha claimed that the PSPCL had made prior arrangement to meet the surge in demand. He added that the consumers would continue to receive an uninterrupted power supply without any power cuts even after electricity demand crossed 17,000 MW.

He said given the increasing urbanisation and continuous growth in industrial units, electricity demand was estimated to rise by 7 to 10 per cent annually.

The state’s record-breaking energy demand came just a day after the final phase of the advanced paddy sowing commenced on June 9.

Punjab cultivates paddy on nearly 32 lakh hectares, with 73% of this area irrigated by tubewells. The PSPCL records indicate there are 13.94 lakh tubewell connections in the state.

In the public sector, the Ropar Thermal Power Plant generated 680 MW, Lehra Mohabbat 830 MW and Goindwal 505 MW of power. Private sector plants also operated at high output, with Rajpura generating 1,325 MW and Talwandi Sabo 1,860 MW.

Sinha added that to cope with the rapidly increasing power demand in the future, a new 206 MW hydroelectric project is being set up at Shahpur Kandi, which is expected to start generating electricity by December 2025.

The power consumption in the state stood above 16,000 MW for the fourth consecutive day. At 16,534 MW, the power demand remained higher than Thursday when its consumption touched 16,300 MW.

While the demand soared to 16,711 MW on June 11, it had plummeted to 16,192 MW on June 10.

Experts said due to intense heatwave and sowing of paddy, electricity demand would surpass Punjab State Power Corporation Limited’s (PSPCL) capacity of 17,000 MW.

However, PSPCL CMD Ajoy Sinha claimed that the PSPCL had made prior arrangement to meet the surge in demand. He added that the consumers would continue to receive an uninterrupted power supply without any power cuts even after electricity demand crossed 17,000 MW.

He said given the increasing urbanisation and continuous growth in industrial units, electricity demand was estimated to rise by 7 to 10 per cent annually.

The state’s record-breaking energy demand came just a day after the final phase of the advanced paddy sowing commenced on June 9.

Punjab cultivates paddy on nearly 32 lakh hectares, with 73% of this area irrigated by tubewells. The PSPCL records indicate there are 13.94 lakh tubewell connections in the state.

In the public sector, the Ropar Thermal Power Plant generated 680 MW, Lehra Mohabbat 830 MW and Goindwal 505 MW of power. Private sector plants also operated at high output, with Rajpura generating 1,325 MW and Talwandi Sabo 1,860 MW.

Sinha added that to cope with the rapidly increasing power demand in the future, a new 206 MW hydroelectric project is being set up at Shahpur Kandi, which is expected to start generating electricity by December 2025.