Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is lighting other states of India too. For, Punjab’s power utility has sold power worth Rs 1,002 crore to other states of the country in a single financial year of 2018 — something happening for the first time in recent history.
Achieving a new milestone in power sector, PSPCL has been ranked first at an all India level among all the power utilities under digital transaction segments.
“It’s a moment of pride for Punjab as seven towns of the state are amongst the list of top 20 towns of the nation under digital category. Total 1,405 towns, at all India level, were rated in this category,” said the state Power Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar on Thursday.
Kangar said that another jewel in PSPCL’s crown is the recognition of Technical Training Institute as category–I training institute in the field of thermal, hydro, transmission, distribution and power management.
“For September and October this year, Punjab had become No 1 at all India level in selling power at Indian Energy Exchange (IEX). During September 2018, 744 million units (MUs) worth Rs 426 Crore were sold at the rate of Rs 5.73 per unit, and during October 2018, 652.6 MUs worth Rs 382 crores at the rate of Rs 5.87 were sold by Punjab at IEX,” he said.
Sharing details, Kangar said that on September 30, out of total traded volume of 271 MUs on IEX, PSPCL had sold 104 MUs (4330 MW) power, highest so far during a single day.
Total power traded on IEX during 2018 is 1849 MUs at an average round the clock rate of Rs 5.41 per unit, he said adding that this would translate into saving of Rs 400 crores to PSPCL for 2018-19 that would offset tariff for next financial year by the same amount.
Kangar said that Punjab was able to get much higher average selling rate as it was able to sell more power during peak hours that helped fetch overall average rate.
“Energy demand pattern of the Punjab is very peculiar, for eight months of non-paddy period it is highly surplus. During paddy season (from June to September), however, situation is altogether different, maximum utilization of own resources and long-term power tie-ups also do not suffice the demand, banking of power helps offset some scarcity and in previous years, short term purchase of power had to be resorted to help sustain the requirement,” he said.
During the summer or paddy season, maximum demand shoots up to around 12,600 megawatt, on the other hand, during remaining eight months, maximum demand drops to 5,000-6,000 MW, which further falls to around 3000-3500 MW in night hours.
Kangar also appreciated the role of PSPCL management team headed by chairman-cum-managing director Baldev Singh Sran for optimum utilization of power resources, thus achieving new heights in power sector while serving the consumers in the state.
Minister said that during this summer season, PSPCL successfully catered to historical maximum demand of 12,638 MW on July 10, against previous historical maximum demand of 11,705 MW met on July 11, 2017.
PSPCL also surpassed its own record of highest ever energy supplied during a day with supply of as high as 2,749 LUs of energy within state on August 4, 2018.
He said that 2018 summer season has been unique in optimal utilization of resources such that no short-term power was purchased during paddy season, “rather power worth Rs 449 crores was sold through power exchange during June to September”.