Power cut duration up by an hour as hydel generation dips
Raakhi Jagga
Monday , Jan 11, 2010
Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has increased the duration of power cuts from existing four to five hours due to reduction in hydel generation by over 50%. Heavy snowfall in the hills has led to steep fall in hydel power generation with a few hydel stations having stopped functioning altogether. Consequently, the power cuts were increased by an hour about two days ago.

As per the information available, the total hydel power which Punjab was getting on daily basis was to the tune of 97 kah units (LUs), which has now decreased to 50 LUs only. Thus to make up for the loss in power supply, power cuts have been increased.

It needs to be mentioned that while Ludhiana is struggling with five-hour cut, many cities like Patiala, Bhatinda, Jalandhar etc are facing only four-hour cut. Ludhiana was getting 4 hours cut earlier which has now been increased to 5 hours while in the rest of the cities duration has been increased from 3 hours to 4 hours.