With power cuts becoming rampant all over the State, Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl) on Saturday said that due to gap in demand and supply, regulatory measures have been imposed in Punjab.
KD Chaudhri, chairman- cum-managing director, PSPCl, said thermal and hydel power plants of PSPCl were running to their full capacity and it had been using full capacity of 5400 MW of transmission lines to bring in power from Central Sector allocations and power purchase, but persistent gap in demand and supply has forced PSPCl to impose regulatory measures.
The CMD said that PSPCl thermal Power plants and Hydel Power Plants are generating 3000MW of power. Combined with 5400MW from Central Sector allocations and other sources, availability of power is 8400MW thereby causing a shortfall of 1000MW.
Chaudhri informed that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) of Punjab are not generating power to its capacity due to coal shortage at these plants. He said that once coal starts reaching these plants, the gap in demand and supply would be bridged and the regulatory measures would be withdrawn. He further added that PSPCl shall be providing adequate power to AP consumers and take bare minimum regulatory measures for industrial /domestic consumers during this period.
The CMD hoped that the situation is likely to improve in 3 to 4 days and appealed to people of Punjab to bear the regulatory measures imposed by PSPCl in extra ordinary circumstances, in view of sudden rise in demand of power due to paddy transplantation, high temperature and poor monsoon.