Punjab Newsline
Power cuts due to banking arrangements of power, says Ratra
GAGANDEEP AHUJA
Monday, 12 January 2009
PATIALA: Y.S.Ratra IAS (Retd.) chairman, Punjab State Electricity Board informed that board received 12848 LUs of power under banking arrangement from Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh during previous paddy season and is bound to return the power.

It has been clarified by Ratra that PSEB is not selling power to any other utility in the country and is only meeting its obligations under banking arrangements.

Board returned 867LUs to these states in October 2008, 3132LUs in November, 3388LUs in December and 1400LUs upto 11th January 2009. As a consequence Electricity consumers of State are facing power cuts of 3-4hours duration. In December average power cuts were of 3 hours duration and in January so far the average is 4 hours. Ratra said that the 5 hours power cuts from 9th January to 11th January were attributable to non availability of power from NTPC due to shortage of Gas at Gas based thermal power plants which was a temporary phenomenon.

Ratra disclosed that presently the board is returning about 130LUs of power per day under the banking arrangement and will be able to finish the balance quota by mid February. He said that during February demand of power usually falls and after returning all the power received from other states, the availability of power to consumers will increase and consumer shall get relief from power cuts.