PSPCL forces weekly offs on industry
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 8
With the levying of cross-subsidy surcharge of 74.48 paise on every unit of power drawn by large-scale (LS) open access consumers in the state, the import of power through open access has come down drastically.

This has lead to a sudden increase in power demand in the state. In order to bridge the gap between demand and supply, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has imposed regulatory measures on industrial consumers.

Confirming this, Arun Verma, Director Distribution, PSPCL, said that prior to the imposition of the cross-subsidy surcharge, industrial consumers were daily drawing 150 lakh units (LU) through open access from sources other than PSPCL.

“But with the levying of the cross-subsidy surcharge on open access power, industrial units of Punjab have almost stopped purchasing power through open access. On July 6, the purchase was just 22 LU and on July 7, the figure was 38 LU.

“This sudden spurt in demand has forced the power corporation to impose weekly off on industry,” he said.

Verma added that PSPCL has planned the power requirement for summer assuming that Punjab industry would be importing at least 100 LU through open access. “But now, the power scenario has changed. We are left with no option, but to impose weekly off on industry,” he added.

“Even after the imposition of regulatory measures, the demand in the state recorded on July 7 was 2,004 LU whereas the availability was 1,940 LU - a shortfall of 64 LU,” said a PSPCL spokesperson.

Meanwhile, according to the new power regulatory measures imposed on industrial consumers with effect from July 6, general industrial consumers being fed from Category-II feeders will observe one weekly off whereas the arc/induction furnaces and rolling mills being fed from Category-II/Category-III feeders will observe two weekly offs.