Punjab CM seeks addl 1,000MW power from Centre to meet peak summer demand

In a letter to Union power minister RK Singh, chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that the state’s generation capacity was limited to about 6,500 MW, whereas the peak demand was likely to touch 15,500MW this paddy sowing season

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday wrote to the Centre, seeking additional 1,000MW of electricity for the paddy season.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday wrote to the Centre, seeking additional 1,000MW of electricity for the paddy season from June 15 to October 10. (Representational photo)

In a letter to Union power minister RK Singh, Mann said that the state’s generation capacity was limited to about 6,500 MW, whereas the peak demand was likely to touch 15,500MW this summer. To meet the shortfall, he sought up to 1,000MW from central sector generating stations for Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) from June 15 to October 10.

In the letter, Mann said the state power utility, PSPCL, is keeping a continuous watch over the power availability on the PUShP (High Price Day Ahead Market and Surplus Power) portal. “As the demand of electricity cannot be reliably met through the collective transaction segment of power exchange, the state is in definite need of firm allocation of RTC power of 1,000MW for the period from 15.6.2023 to 15.10.2023,” Mann said.

He cited the recent Indian Meteorological Department forecast of low monsoon in the region. “The cultivation of paddy must be protected in the national interest of food security; hence, our request for additional power from central sector generating stations,” he wrote.