GUEST COLUMN: Punjab Government setup New Milestones in Power sector over 4 Years-Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ March 15,2026
The Punjab government has implemented variouswelfare schemes in diverse sectors, particularly electricity, health services, education, providing Rs. 1,000 to adult girls over 18 years and Rs. 1,500 to women belonging to SC category, along with many other schemes and revolutionary initiatives whose concrete outcomes are evident before us.
Under the Punjab government’s power department, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) are making invaluable contributions to Punjab’s all-round development and economic progress.
Under the dynamic leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab, and able guidance of Sanjeev Arora, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power, and Local Government, all categories of electricity consumers in the Punjab have been provided uninterrupted, reliable, and affordable electricity supply, along with consumer-friendly facilities on day-to-day basis. The Punjab Government’s decisions to acquire the private GVK thermal plant and secure the Pachhwara Central Coal Mine in Jharkhand show Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s strong political determination. Today, under the leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab, the Punjab government has completed four years and is boarding on the journey of its fifth year.
New milestones have been setup in the power sector with the honest and determined efforts undertaken by the Punjab government over the past four years. During the paddy seasons of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, agricultural consumers were supplied more than eight hours of uninterrupted electricity without imposing power cuts on domestic, commercial, industrial, and other categories of consumers. Key initiatives include the voluntary disclosure scheme for all consumers, acquisition of a private sector thermal plant, enhancing electricity generation, implementing schemes to ensure reliable and uninterrupted power supply to consumers, accident compensation policy and employment provision for workers engaged by contractors and outsourcing agencies.
Punjab is the first state of the nation where all domestic consumers are provided 600 units of free electricity every two months (or 300 units per month). Currently, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is illuminating the premises of over 1.17 crore consumers across various categories in Punjab, including more than 85 lakh domestic consumers. Over 13 lakh domestic consumers have taken new electricity connections in the past four years.
Commercial organizations always depend on consumers, and in the same manner, Powercom has streamlined the process of providing connections to new electricity consumers. This primarily involves abolishing the No Objection Certificate (NOC) requirement, which provides significant relief to consumers. Additionally, electricity connections are now being issued in unauthorized colonies as well. Furthermore, the A&E form for LT supply category consumers has been greatly simplified.
As per the 2026-27 tariff order, electricity rates for domestic consumers in Punjab have also been reduced, with several other facilities issued for consumers. Electricity consumers across the state have received an average reduction of one rupee per unit in power tariffs. Consequently, from April 1, 2026, consumers of every category will now receive electricity at 50 paise to 1.50 rupees cheaper per unit. Under the new electricity rates, domestic consumers with up to 2 kW load will receive electricity at Rs. 1.55 cheaper per unit for up to 300 units (i.e., Rs. 1 and 55 paise savings per unit), while above 300 units, it will be 70 paise cheaper per unit. Similarly, for domestic consumers with 2 to 7 kW load, electricity up to 300 units has been made Rs. 1.47 cheaper per unit, and above 300 units, it is Rs. 0.70 cheaper per unit. For non-residential supply, electricity rates have been reduced by 50 to 79 paise per unit depending on requirements; small power supply by 12 paise per unit, medium supply by 42 paise per unit, and large supply by 70 to 74 paise per unit. Agricultural tubewell electricity has been reduced by Rs. 1.32 per unit, and farm motor electricity tariff has been lowered from Rs. 6.70 to Rs. 5.38 per unit.
Acquisition of Guru Amardas Thermal Plant (GATP), Goindwal Sahib
In 2024, the Punjab government created history by acquiring the private sector GVK thermal plant at Goindwal Sahib for Rs. 1,080 crore—the lowest price purchase agreement for a GVK thermal plant.
The Guru Amardas Thermal Plant, also known as the GVK Thermal Power Plant, achieved its plant load factor increase to nearly 82% by July 2025 after Punjab State Power Corporation Limited acquired it in February 2024. Prior to acquisition, from April 2016 to January 2024, the plant’s average plant load factor was only around 34%. In July 2024, this thermal plant set a record with a 90% plant load factor. In the financial year 2024-25, its average plant load factor was approximately 65%.
Pachhwara Central Coal Mine: A Boon for Punjab
The saying “true policies yield desires” fits perfectly with Punjab State Power Corporation Limited’s Pachhwara Central Coal Mine in Jharkhand, proving to be a veritable boon for PSPCL.
Allotted to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited in March 2015 and operational after nearly seven years in December 2022, the mine has supplied approximately 170 lakh metric tons of coal (4,266 rakes) to date. This has yielded savings of about Rs. 8.5 crore per lakh metric ton compared to Coal India Limited (CIL), totaling roughly Rs. 1,445 crore thus far. Thermal plants face no coal shortages, with current stocks at: Ropar Thermal Plant (43 days), Lehra Mohabbat Plant (34 days), Goindwal Sahib Thermal Plant (36 days). Coal from Pachhwara Mine can only be used for government power plants in Punjab, and following the thermal plant acquisition by Punjab, this coal will fuel electricity generation there.
Launch of Roshan Punjab Project
The Punjab government has initiated the Roshan Punjab Project to make Punjab India’s first power-cut-free state. This flagship endeavor, with a Rs. 5,000 crore investment, aims to completely overhaul the transmission and distribution network, ensuring uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply by next year—hence its apt name, Roshan Punjab.
Under the project, new sub-stations and power lines will be installed, feeder loads reduced, and other critical measures implemented. Focus areas include building new infrastructure, upgrading existing systems, and enhancing power sector maintenance capacity. Alongside these reforms, Punjab has emerged as a beacon of light for the nation in the electricity sector.
Work is underway in the transmission and distribution sectors to ensure reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers. 26 new 66 kV sub-stations have been constructed, the capacity of 194 power transformers has been augmented, and 34 new power transformers have been added, resulting in a total capacity increase of 2,737 MVA. Additionally, 337 circuit kilometers of new 66 kV lines have been laid, and the capacity of 615 circuit kilometers of lines has been enhanced.
From April 1, 2022, to November 31, 2025, Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited added 413 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 7,657 MVA capacity at 400/220/132 kV sub-stations. Key achievements include commissioning the new 400 kV Dhanansu (Cycle Valley) sub-station in January 2024 (with 1×500 MVA, 400/220 kV ICT, and ISTS connectivity via 400 kV Jalandhar-Kurukshetra line); the new 400 kV Ropar sub-station in August 2024 (2×500 MVA, 400/220 kV ICT, ISTS via 400 kV Ludhiana-Coldm-Nangal line); upgrading Gurdaspur 220 kV sub-station (2×100 MVA) from 132 kV; new 220 kV Wazirabad sub-station (1×160 MVA, 220/66 kV transformer); augmenting/installing 51 nos. 220 kV transformers and 61 nos. 132/66 kV transformers.
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme
Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), Rs. 9,563 crore has been approved to strengthen the electricity distribution infrastructure and implement smart metering works. Tenders worth Rs. 4,824 crore have been issued and work awarded. So far, Rs. 755 crore has been expended.
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited have made invaluable contributions to providing reliable, uninterrupted, and affordable electricity supply to over 1.17 crore consumers across various categories in Punjab. The CMDs, Directors, engineers, technical and non-technical staff of both corporations deserve immense credit for this achievement.
I share one thing with readers: the performance of PSPCL and PSTCL cannot be compared with any other department because employees of both corporation’s work with hard work and dedication, and some category employees even risk their lives, while some even sacrifice their lives for providing electricity to the consumers.
From April 1, 2022, to March 12, 2026, Powercom and Transco have provided jobs to eligible candidates against a total of 9,593 vacancies in various categories through a transparent merit-based process at different times. These include 814 jobs by Powercom and 1,579 by Transco. Additionally, recruitment for 1,181 posts—including Assistant Engineers, Junior Engineers, Clerks, and thermal staff is to be completed by June 2020. It may be noted that 65,264 jobs have been provided across all Punjab departments, of which 9,593 jobs have been provided solely by the two power corporations.
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has secured an A+ grade in the 14th Integrated Rating of power distribution units, elevating its score from 76.99 (A grade) in the 13th rating to 89.22. This achievement positions PSPCL second nationally among state-owned DISCOMs. It reflects PSPCL’s robust progress in financial stability, operational efficiency, payment discipline, and consumer-centric electricity supply systems.
In FY 2025-26 up to December 2025, PSPCL further strengthened its financial position by posting a profit of Rs. 4,202.85 crore.
On July 5, 2025, Punjab successfully met a record peak demand of 16,670 MW—11.42% higher than the 14,961 MW recorded on July 5, 2024—surpassing the prior record of 16,428 MW set on June 28, 2025. Previously, on June 29, 2024, the peak demand stood at 16,058 MW.
Ahead of the monsoon, the Punjab government’s push for early paddy transplantation and rising temperatures sharp demand growth. PSPCL met this surge effectively, registering 9,071 million units (MU) consumption in June 2025—a 4.5% rise from 8,678 MU in June 2024.
Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) plays a fundamental role in the power sector, making substantial contributions to the transmission network for seamless, reliable supply to consumers. Through PSTCL’s efforts, Power System Operating Corporation Limited raised its ATC/TTC (Available Transfer Capability/Total Transfer Capability) limits from 7,400/8,000 MW to 10,400/10,900 MW.
Power Generation Expansion
PSPCL continues relentless efforts to increase electricity generation. Under the Shahpurkandi Multipurpose Dam Project, construction of the 206 MW hydel power project is advancing at a war footing, expected to commence generation by May 2027.
NOTE: The views, information shared by the author/ writer are personal. Author, Manmohan Singh is a Public Relations Consultant, Ex.Dy Secy, P.R.,Powercom. He can be contacted at 8437725172
