PSPCL consistently meets historic maximum demand and highest energy requirement due to sustained heat wave & delayed monsoon

PUNJAB STATE POWER CORPORATION LIMITED

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE

PRESS NOTE

PATIALA, July 03, 2019 The demand and consumption of electricity has shot up due to continuous heat wave & delay in monsoon, maximum demand this year is consistently around 13000 MW whereas it was hovering around 11000 MW during the June last year and is 20-45 % higher. Similarly consumption of power per day is 30 to 50 % more i.e 2850 LUs since 28 th june although it was around 2200 LUs in the corresponding period last year. On 1st July, 2019, PSPCL catered to historical maximum demand of 13,633 MW without imposing any cut on Domestic, commercial and industrial consumers and supplying regular 8 hr power to Agriculture pump sets. Maximum demand on Ist July, 2019 is about 995 MW higher as compared to 12,638 MW met on 10^th July, 2018 i.e. an increase of about 8 % over the previous

PSPCL supplied 2,902 Lakh Units (LUs) of electricity on 1^st July, 2019 and 2,866 Lakh Units (LUs) of electricity on 2^nd July, 2019 to all the power consumers within Punjab which is highest during the ongoing paddy/summer season thus far. Energy supplied on 1^stJuly, 2019 i.e. 2,902 LUs is 153 LUs more than highest ever energy supplied during a day i.e. 2,749 LUs on 04^th August, 2018. Record demand & energy requirement is being met without any short term power purchase.

This has inter alia been possible due to Good banking arrangements. PSPCL had made Banking Agreements with other states such that during the winters of last financial year, record power of 5468 MUs was exported and in return now daily about 540 LUs energy i.e. 2200/2400 MW power is being imported through banking to meet the demand. Further, record demand is being met without any short term power purchase. Previously PSPCL had to make short term power purchase to meet the demand in 2015-16 to the tune of 1700 MUs, 1439 MUs in 2016-17 & 2070 MUs in 2017-18. Neither short term power was purchased last year to meet the demand nor it is anticipated to be purchased this year.

This year 3-4 major thunderstorms have hit the state extensively damaging power infrastructure like towers,poles & transformers and PSPCL has made all out efforts to restore the system on war footing. Yesterday thunderstorm damaged major infrastructure (500 Poles & 80 Transformers) in Budhladha, Mansa & Bathinda area. PSPCL had restored Domestic supply to villages yesterday and to most of the tube wells today however supply to the remaining tube wells shall be restored by tomorrow.

This extraordinary demand is due to delay in monsoon and relatively dry pre- monsoon period resulting into increased water requirement for Irrigation. PSPCL has made arrangements to meet the demand of 14000 MW and would continue to supply regular power to Agriculture pumpsets and other category of consumers. However it needs to understood that though power is available to meet the requirement albeit at some cost but water is really scarce and needs to be conserved for sustainable future, so one and all are requested to conserve our water resources lest state runs dry.

Issued by Dy.Secy.Public Relations /PSPCL

PRESS NOTE NO 65 July 3,2019