PUNJAB NEWSLINE
AIPEF urges CM Punjab to keep PSEB a single company
VINOD KUMAR GUPTA
Tuesday, 06 April 2010
CHANDIGARH: All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has urged Chief Minister Punjab to keep PSEB a single entity and only trading can be kept outside to meet the legal requirements.

AIPEF has written a letter to Chief Minister Punjab drawing his attention towards the landmark judgment of Appellate Tribunal for Electricity of Chhattisgarh given on July 15 2009 which has ruled that under the provisions of Electricity Act 2003 it is not mandatory to unbundle state electricity board.

Shalender Dubey said that as per statement of objects and reason of the Act 2003 Distribution licensee would be free to undertake generation and generation companies would be free to take up distribution licensee.

Appellate Tribunal judgment rules There is no specific bar in the Act which prevents a transmission licensee from undertaking the activity of distribution.

This means distribution can be integrated with generation as well as with transmission.

The letter further mentions that some states have already started the process of roll back. Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh Governments have prepared proposal that all DISCOMS be merged into one unit.