PSPCL sells power outside state to make quick bucks

Despite peak demand, sold 16 lakh units in four days

PATIALA: Amid heatwave and paddy season, when demand for power reaches its peak and usually forces the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to purchase electricity from outside the state, the power corporation has managed to sell power outside the state this time.

The PSPCL sold 16 lakh units from July 24 to 27, up to a rate of Rs 5.24 per unit, to make quick bucks.

The corporation sold 3 lakh units on July 24, 1 lakh on July 26 and 12 lakh on July 27. It will sell another 12 lakh units on July 28.

The selling rate of power ranged between Rs 4.24 to Rs 5.24 per unit.

Last year, the PSPCL had bought power from outside the state to meet the peak demand in the last week of July.

“It’s for the first time that the PSPCL managed to sell power in summer, and that too when it is meeting above 10,000-MW power demand on daily basis. We have adopted strict measures to check leakage, and rotate power supply for agriculture sector very effectively, which helps us save power, which we sell in the open market, without imposing any power cut in Punjab,” said PSPCL chairman-cummanaging director (CMD) Baldev Singh Sran.

He added, “A power plant cannot be shut and run swiftly, thus when the power demand declines in Punjab at night, we sell power outside the state. Monsoon has also helped the PSPCL to achieve this.”

He said the preliminary phase of the paddy sowing has been completed. “And if the monsoon remains active in the state, the corporation will manage to sell more power at good rates in coming days.”

ONE-TIME SETTLEMENT SCHEME FOR CONSUMERS

Sran said the PSPCL has launched a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for defaulting consumers of all categories (except agriculture pumpset). Under the scheme, which is valid up to August 23, an opportunity has been given to consumers to settle their outstanding dues of running connections or revive the disconnected connections.

He appealed to all consumers to avail this “golden opportunity”.

Sran said that under the scheme, relief in surcharge and interest amount will be given to all consumers.

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It’s for the first time that PSPCL managed to sell power in summer. We have adopted strict measures to check leakage, and rotate power supply for agriculture sector very effectively, which helps us save power. BALDEV SINGH SRAN, CMD, PSPCL