The power demand and consumption in Punjab has reached an all time high of 13,633 MW (mega watt) — thanks to the continuous heat wave and delay in monsoon.

“The maximum demand this year is consistently around 13,000 MW whereas it was hovering around 11,000 MW during June last year and is 20 to 45 percent higher,” said Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) spokesperson. 

Similarly, the power consumption per day is 30 to 50 percent more — 2,850 LUs (lakh units) since June 28 although it was around 2,200 LUs in the corresponding period last year.

Spokesperson said that on July 1 this year, PSPCL catered to historical maximum demand of 13,633 MW without imposing any cut on domestic, commercial and industrial consumers and supplying regular eight-hour power to agriculture pump sets.

Maximum demand on July 1, 2019, is about 995 MW higher as compared to 12,638 MW met on July 10, 2018 — an increase of about eight percent over the previous. “PSPCL supplied 2,902 LUs of electricity on July 1, 2019, and 2,866 LUs on July 2, 2019, to all the power consumers within Punjab which is highest during the ongoing paddy or summer season thus far,” said the spokesperson.

As per the data shared by the PSPCL, the energy supplied on July 1, 2019, 2,902 LUs, is 153 LUs more than highest ever energy supplied during a day, 2,749 LUs, on August 4, 2018.

“Record demand and energy requirement is being met without any short term power purchase. This has, inter alia, been possible due to good banking arrangements,” said the spokesperson adding that the PSPCL had made banking agreements with other states such that during the winters of last financial year, record power of 5,468 MUs was exported and in return now daily about 540 LUs energy, that is 2,200 or 2,400 MW power is being imported through banking to meet the demand.

Spokesperson further added that the record demand is being met without any short-term power purchase. 

“Previously, PSPCL had to make short-term power purchase to meet the demand in 2015-16 to the tune of 1,700 MUs, 1439 MUs in 2016-17 and 2070 MUs in 2017-18. Neither short-term power was purchased last year to meet the demand nor it is anticipated to be purchased this year,” said the spokesperson.

Spokesperson said that the extraordinary demand is due to delay in monsoon and relatively dry pre-monsoon period resulting into increased water requirement for irrigation. “PSPCL has made arrangements to meet the demand of 14,000 MW and would continue to supply regular power to agriculture pumpsets and other category of consumers,” added the spokesperson.