The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has directed that farm feeders be given preferential treatment during periods of high electricity demand, ahead of the commencement of the paddy sowing season in June. The regulatory body has also sanctioned the implementation of emergency power cuts to ensure the stability of the power grid, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that this directive arrives amidst a significant surge in electricity consumption across Punjab. Major agricultural and industrial hubs, including Jalandhar, typically experience heightened pressure on their distribution networks during the summer months due to increased demand.
A letter issued by the PSERC on March 25 detailed that the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) anticipates an unrestricted peak demand of approximately 17,873 megawatts (MW) for the current fiscal year. This projection is an increase from the 16,670 MW peak demand recorded on July 5 of the previous year. The Commission’s assessment suggests that while overall power availability is expected to be adequate, unforeseen disruptions at major generating units or constraints within the transmission infrastructure could necessitate temporary load management measures.
The PSERC has granted PSPCL the authority to implement regulated power supply only in critical situations. These exigencies include sudden breakdowns of power generating units, transmission network bottlenecks, or any significant disparity between power demand and availability that could jeopardize the stability of the entire grid system.
However, the Commission has explicitly stated that routine or scheduled power cuts will not be permissible. Any load shedding must be strictly emergency-based, of short duration, and employed solely as a final measure to manage real-time system stress. This ensures that essential power supply is maintained as much as possible for consumers.
To foster transparency and inform the public, PSPCL has been mandated to provide advance notification to consumers whenever feasible. This communication can be disseminated through SMS alerts, emails, or public notices, with all such information also to be published on the corporation’s official website. Furthermore, PSPCL is required to submit a detailed report within one month of any emergency measure being implemented. This report must include the feeder-wise impact, the duration of the disruption, and the specific reasons necessitating the action.
While agriculture feeders have been elevated to a high priority status, particularly for the crucial paddy cultivation period, the PSERC order does not specify a fixed number of supply hours for farms. Instead, the emphasis is placed on protecting agricultural power supply to the extent possible, while concurrently balancing the overall requirements of the power system. This approach aims to support the agricultural sector without compromising the stability and reliability of the wider electricity network.
In an effort to ensure adherence to these emergency load management guidelines, the PSERC has also authorised PSPCL to impose penalties. These penalties, ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 500 per kVA, will be levied on consumers who violate load restrictions during these critical situations, thereby encouraging compliance and cooperation.
The Chenab Times News Desk