PATIALA: The Central Electricity Authority in its load generation balancing report (LGBR) for the year 2018-19 has projected that Punjab will remain surplus power during the current fiscal as it would have 22.5% extra electricity that can be sold in the open market to book profits after meeting its demand. The report states that annual power supply in availability will be 73840 million units (MU) against power requirement of 60290 MU.The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) met a record maximum ever demand of 12542 MW on July 24 and also supplied 2,749 lakh units on August 4, this year, despite a shortfall in availability of hydropower in the state. The corporation was also able to sell the extra power that was available at its disposal in the open market during the last week of July, even when the demand for irrigating the paddy crop was at its peak.CMD Baldev Sran said that corporation had sold around 12 lakh units a day during the peak demand for power in the open exchange at a rate of Rs 5 unit, which enabled the corporation to earn Rs 1.25 crore profit during the last week of July.As against the anticipated shortfall of 19.6% during the month of July, August and September, in Punjab, when the demand for electricity crosses 13000 MW mark, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been able to maintain an uninterrupted power supply to all categories of consumers including eight hour scheduled supply to the agriculture connections. The CEA report stated that Punjab will face a shortfall of 19.6% during the months of July, August and September when the demand goes up due to the paddy plantation, which needs additional irrigation during these three months. As per the report, the maximum power demand anticipated during July, August and September is 12860 MW, 12150 MW and 11370 MW against the availability of 10290 MW, 10260 MW and 10340 MW, respectively.However, CMD Baldev Singh said despite all the odds, which including lesser generation at the hydel power projects due to reduced inflow of water and a fall in the state’s share in the four centre sector plants including the 2 Units of Damodar Valley Corporation (RTPS) of 184 MW, one unit of Rihand (50MW), two units of Coastal Gujarat Power Limited , Mundra (208 MW) and one unit of Sasan (50 MW), the PSPCL had successful met the demand for power without implementing any regulatory measures (power cuts).He said the corporation had signed multiple short-term and the long-term agreements with a number of sources outside the state’s territory, which had enabled the corporation to meet the power demand, which has increased by 33% during the current year.

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