PSPCL proposes power cuts in case of exigencies

Power consumers in Punjab may face power outages particularly in summer, though the state claims to be a "power surplus" state on the back of addition of new power generation capacities.
In a petition filed with power regulator PSERC, state's power utility Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) has sought regulatory guidance for measures to be taken in case of exigencies leading to power cuts for the Tariff Year 2015-16.
PSERC has sought objections from the public to the petition filed by PSPCL in this regard.
In the petition, PSPCL has projected surplus availability of 15,261 million units throughout the year (2015-16) with estimating total power availability of 66,937 MUs against requirement of 51,676 MUs.

PSPCL has even estimated surplus availability of energy during crucial months of May (2,099 MUs), June (1,277 MUs), July (758 MUs) and August (393 MUs) when summers are at peak and paddy sowing season is on.
PSPCL said even in the surplus scenario, "eventualities" cannot be ruled out in the power system which may require regulation of load and supply.

PSPCL has cited "eventualities" such as forced outage of power plants for longer duration, any downward revision in central sector schedule due to longer duration outage of central sector generating units or any limitation in transmission network may require imposition of regulator measures.

Painting a rosy picture of power availability in the summer, PSPCL said there will be availability of surplus power because of the addition of new generation capacities with in the state.
"...Primarily due to additional generational capacities added within the state and also from the state in the share form the central sector projects, there will be surplus availability of electricity during most of the months of 2015-16," it said.
So far, two units of Rajpura thermal power plants 2X700 MW has been synchronized while one unit 1X660MW of Talwandi Sabo plant has been put on bar, it said.
Remaining 2X660 mw of Talwandi Sabo plant are likely to be synchronized before the paddy season in 2015-16, PSPCL said in the petition.

In last year, PSPCL had to impose power cuts on consumers in view of short coal supply to its power plants, leading to dip in power generation.
Punjab has seen maximum unrestricted and restricted demand for power at 2,302 lakh units per day on July 6, 2014 and 2,454 LUs a day on July 12 last year.
Among power regulatory measures, PSPCL proposed power cuts, impose weekly off day on large and medium industries, peak load restrictions on industry, regulate supply to AP (agricultural pumpsets) consumers.
It is expected that requirement to regulate supply to consumers and imposing power cuts would be minimal and only to take care of unexpected events.