PSPCL sets dubious record of backing down 8 thermal units in June
Vinod Kumar Gupta, 03-Jun-2011

PSPCL sets dubious record of backing down 8 thermal units in June

Friday June 3, 2011

Chandigarh

PSPCL has created a new dubious record of backing down 8 thermal units producing 1560 MW in the month of June.

According to sources 4 units of 210 MW each has been closed at Ropar Thermal Plant, two units of 250 Mw each at Lehra Mohabbat and 2 units of 110 MW at Bhatinda Thermal plants .The reason for load shedding in the region is storm and rains in Punjab in last three days.

The closure of thermal units at the cost of power purchase agreements may prove costly in long run. Yesterday PSPCL surrendered 204 lakh units costing about 6 crore from its share in the grid to draw power from sources signed by PSPCL under power purchase agreements..

The reason behind closure of units is the costly power purchase agreements made by PSPCL at the behest of politicians to avoid power cuts during summer and paddy season in this election year. PSPCL has been drawing costly power from the grid as per power purchase agreements and backing down its own units.

The political decision to make power purchase at every possible cost in this summer is not good for the health of the cash starved PSPCL. PSPCL has arranged power at lowest rate ever at Rs 4.25 per unit as part of its exercise to provide uninterrupted power supply to all the electricity consuming sectors in the summer season.
PSPCL has signed power purchase agreements with Power Trading Corporation and NTPC for buying 3200 million units of power during paddy season. Besides this PSPCL has also procured 2,500 million units of power under banking arrangements with other states.
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