A day after meeting its all-time highest demand of 14,960 megawatt (MW) on Wednesday (June 21) with an overall drawl from Northern Grid being 8716 MW, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on Thursday set a new benchmark by meeting a record 15,151 MW demand.

“Under able guidance of H’ble CM @BhagwantMann, New history in power sector of Punjab is written today at 2 PM, when PSPCL met highest demand of 15054 MW & crossed much-awaited milestone of 15000 MW. Congrats & Best Wishes to officials, employees of PSPCL, PSTCL & people of Punjab,” tweeted the state Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO.

With rising temperatures and humid weather, the state’s power demand is witnessing a rise with each passing day.

A senior official said that Punjab was drawing 8,826 MW from the northern grid and the state’s own gross generation was 6,205 MW at the time of maximum demand. All the seven available thermal units in the State are running and all the private sector thermal units are also operating, said the official, adding that three out of four Ranjit Sagar units were running at the time of maximum demand.

“Power demand has been rising continuously and PSPCL has been able to meet the demand. Punjab power demand reached 14962 MW on Wednesday with a supply of 3331 lakh units. PSPCL purchased 214 lakh units to meet the power demand. Even during evening peak, the demand was 14377 MW,” said the official.

The coal stock at Lehra Mohabatt and Ropar thermal plants are for 25 and 43 days respectively. The coal stock in private sector thermal plants Rajpura has 35 days, Talwandi Sabo seven days, and GVK only 3.4 days.

The water level in the hydro plants reservoir is in better position than the previous year’s level on the same day. The water level in Bhakra reservoir is 1577 feet which is 19.5 feet more than the previous year’s level of 1,567.5 feet on the corresponding day. At Ranjit Sagar, water level is 511.97 which is more than 6.7 meters higher from the previous year’s level of 505.2 meters.

A day before, the Power Minister had said that the State Government is committed to ensure quality power supply in the State and no cuts are being imposed on any industrial, non-residential supply (NRS) or domestic category besides providing eight-hour daily uninterrupted power supply to agriculture feeders for sowing of paddy crop throughout the State.

The Minister had maintained that during the last three-four days, PSPCL was successfully meeting maximum demand above 14000 MW.

“There is around 6500 MW generation within the State and 4800 MW share of State in central sector and BBMB plants. PSPCL has already made short-term arrangements in banking for 3000 MW and with utilization of total available transmission capacity of 9000 MW, PSPCL shall be able to meet 15500 MW demand during this paddy season,” he had claimed on Wednesday.

The Minister had added that due to non-allocation of additional 1000 MW from the central sector by the Union Ministry of Power, power is being purchased from Exchange to meet the power requirement.