Punjab power utility, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), on Sunday clarified that providing power supply for agriculture tubewell connections during “day time only” — as demanded by the agri consumers — is “not technically feasible”.
PSPCL claimed that it has been providing 24-hour “uninterrupted” power supply to all other categories — domestic, commercial and industrial consumers — throughout the year. Citing series of technical requirements, PSPCL spokesperson clarified that load is required to be run at night hours and that was why the agriculture load needs to be run during night hours.
“However, for the convenience of agriculture consumers, the power supply is being given in day and night groups in rotation,” said the spokesperson.
Elaborating, the PSPCL spokesperson said that Punjba’s energy demand pattern is very peculiar as the maximum demand shoots up to around 13,600 megawatt (MW) during the summer or paddy season (June-September), while it drops to 5000-6000 MW during remaining eight months (October to May), which further falls to around 3000 MW in during night hours.
“The solar generation of about 150-200 MW is available only in the day time. Further, Punjab State Independent Thermal Power Plants (IPPs) — NPL Rajpura (1400 MW), TPL Talwandi Sabo (1980 MW), GVK Goindwal Sahib (540 MW) — cannot be run below 50 percent of their capacity due to technical constraints, and these cannot be shut down at night and start in the morning,” added the spokesperson.
Pointing that PSPCL has also other commitments of power purchase from Central Power Sector, the spokesperson said that during winters, domestic and commercial load become negligible at night thus at least 50 per cent of day load is required to be run in night hours.
“PSPCL is committed to provide quality power supply to its agriculture consumers in the state. As per the Punjab Government’s directions from time to time, PSPCL has successfully supplied uninterrupted eight-hour power supply daily to agriculture tubewell consumers during paddy season from June 13 to September 30 this year,” said the spokepserson.
Spokesperson added that from October 6, 2010, onwards, PSPCL is providing five hours power supply on a daily basis during the day time to the feeders supplying in areas of predominantly vegetable cultivation.
“The 10 hours power supply on alternate days during the day time is being given to feeders supplying the area across the fence along the international border. Likewise, 10 hours power supply on alternate day is being given to the rest of the agriculture feeders across the State,” said the spokesperson.
Spokesperson maintained that as per the power availability or requirement, the agriculture feeders have been divided in two groups (that is day and night group) according to the load and their turn of timing is inter changed after every four days, means the AP consumer getting supply during night hours will get supply in day group after two turns (that is four days).