Paucity of fund crippling PSEB's upgradation process
27 Jun 2009, Nidhi Singhi, TNN

LUDHIANA: Lack of sufficient funds to upgrade the entire power transmission, distribution system is resulting in around 25% energy loss in the
state.

The state currently suffers from acute power crises, but if the electricity department concentrates on controlling these losses, the saved energy could be utilized to mitigate public woes. However, paucity of funds with the state government has delayed the up gradation of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

According to information, 4% energy gets wasted during transmission and around 9% power gets wasted in the distribution process. In commercial sector, there is more than 5-7% energy loss and most losses are related to power thefts.

There is a dire need to reduce these losses, which could greatly help the electricity department in tackling the existing power crisis in the state, especially in the current situation when people are facing a tough time due to long and frequent power cuts.

On condition of anonymity, one of the employees at PSEB office informed that there was an urgent need to upgrade the entire transmission and distribution system as it was resulting in great power loss. He asserted it was because of these losses that the department was unable to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

The residents are much troubled with the power cuts that have now been extended to 10-12 hours a day. They feel the department should try to remove their technical flaws to increase the power output. Manjeet, a city resident said, ‘Whereas on one hand, the government is talking about the nuclear deal, on the other, they are unable to up grade the power distribution system.’

Commenting on it, deputy chief engineer, PSEB, HS Randhawa said that preventing energy loss was not an easy task, it required huge funds. He admitted the transmission and distribution system was in dire need of repairs, and shortage of fund was posing a hassle in its path. ‘Even if we upgrade the system, then too, there would be around 10-11% energy loss, but it would definitely be reduced to some extent,’ he added.