PSPCL struggles to meet initial summer demand as director generation’s illegal removal hampers power management; minister still hopeful
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 27,2026
Punjab state power corporation limited (PSPCL) is passing through its rough phase due to continuous power outages in the state of Punjab.
Though the state government in its face saving exercise held a press conference but the power minister Sanjeev Arora seems to have indirectly admitted the lapses on powercoms planning. He said “Facing a sharp and sudden surge in electricity demand driven by an intense heatwave, the Bhagwant Mann Government has moved swiftly to ensure uninterrupted power supply across Punjab, asserting that Punjab remains firmly in control even as demand skyrocketed from 7,900 MW to over 12,000 MW within just ten days”.
The current pathetic condition of Powercom appears to be due to the non-appointment of a Director (Generation) during the peak season, or the alleged illegal removal of a power generation expert, Er. Harjit Singh, reportedly seems to settle political scores. He was removed from the post of Director (Generation) on what are described as frivolous grounds in November last year.
It is alleged that Harjit Singh was made a scapegoat and removed prematurely despite no fault of his own. Even though senior officials had signed for his suspension, he was ultimately removed from the post. He is the man who is credited with effectively managing power generation last year, running state power plants at full capacity, procuring power at cheaper rates, and ensuring that no power cuts were imposed in the state despite record-high electricity consumption—largely due to his meticulous planning.
His removal came at a crucial time, when planning for power purchase, banking, and handling the challenges of the upcoming summer season was required.
The post of Director (Generation) remains vacant, with its responsibilities currently being handled by the Director (Distribution), who is already occupied with managing the state’s distribution network. According to unconfirmed reports, it is alleged that the Powercom management is planning to appoint a junior and inexperienced individual to the position.
A senior functionary suggested, “The management must revoke the removal orders of Harjit Singh, as a similar action was taken in the case of the Chief Engineer of the Ropar Thermal Plant, who was suspended on the same grounds. By reinstating Harjit Singh, Powercom will get a shot in the arm, as he knows how to handle crises. Last year, he managed the high power demand situation efficiently and proficiently. Moreover, his reinstatement will also help restore Powercom’s reputation.”
HIGHLIGHTS OF POWER MINISTER PRESS CONFERENCE
The power minister in its press conference admitted that Bhagwant Mann Government has made comprehensive preparations to tackle the sharp surge in electricity demand amid the ongoing heatwave, ensuring uninterrupted power supply across the state under the leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann. “PSPCL is fully prepared to meet the unexpected rise in power demand during the current summer season and ensure smooth and uninterrupted power supply across the state.
No Clear Pathway
Arora said, “Negotiations for an additional 1,500 to 2,000 MW of power through banking arrangements with other states are in advanced stages, whereas earlier such processes were initiated well in time and completed before the beginning of the new financial year.
As per available information, around 3,000 MU was procured through the banking system last season, and the previous team had suggested procuring at least 3,500–3,600 MW for the current season.
This year’s plan to arrange only 1,500–2,000 MW through banking reflects a lack of seriousness in managing the expected rise in power demand. It highlights Powercom’s poor planning under the present team, which appears to have failed to analyze the ground reality.”
Keep on Guessing
The minister added, “State hydel plants damaged in the 2025 floods are being restored, with 300 MW of additional capacity expected shortly.”
However, as per available information, only 91.35 MW of the UBDC hydel project’s production was halted due to last year’s floods. No details have been shared by Powercom regarding the remaining 208 MW or how it plans to generate that much power.
Big Promises, Little Planning
The minister added that additional procurement from other states and private sources is expected to secure nearly 1,500 MW of extra power.
However, no concrete plan has been shared regarding the sources of this procurement, especially as most states are facing power shortages.
High Hopes without Arrangement
The minister added that Punjab is preparing to draw 2,000 MW from the Central Government power pool.
However, as per available information, the state received around 1,000 MW last year. How the additional 1,000 MW will be procured from the central pool remains unclear.
Aiming High, Planning Low
“Competitive short-term tenders have been floated to procure all available surplus power,” he added.
But by this time the work is completed and the tenders floated in the season.
Promises without a Roadmap
He also informed, “Waiver of wheeling charges and cross subsidy from 6 PM to 6 AM for two months to encourage more power availability.”
What Minister Claims
Furthermore the power minister added that “backed by a Rs 6,000+ crore infrastructure overhaul under Mission Roshan Punjab and a nearly 70% reduction in unplanned outages, the state’s power utility Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) has managed to maintain grid stability at a time when several parts of the country are grappling with shortages, positioning Punjab among the better-prepared states to handle peak summer demand.”
Emphasising Punjab’s preparedness, he added, “Despite this sudden rise, PSPCL has successfully managed the demand and maintained grid stability through timely planning, robust infrastructure, and advance power arrangements.”
Minister Sanjeev Arora further pointed out the national scenario, saying, “At the national level also, power demand has touched record highs, with India recording an all-time peak demand of 252 GW on 24th April, while available supply stood at around 239 GW, creating a 13 GW deficit across the country. Several states are facing shortages and outages, but Punjab has remained comparatively better positioned due to proactive planning.”
Referring to the directions of the Chief Minister, he said, “CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has specifically instructed the Power Minister and the entire PSPCL team to ensure that the public does not face inconvenience due to any power outages, and all departments are working in mission mode to fulfill these directions.”
He elaborated, “Major works completed / underway include: 70 new substations being set up, upgradation of 200 existing substations, installation / augmentation of 8,000 distribution transformers (DTs), 688 feeders already de-loaded to reduce overloading-related faults, around 41,000 new DTs installed and 8,380 DTs augmented, 7 new 66 KV substations commissioned, and 82 power transformers fully completed.”
On system reliability, he said, “PSPCL has also significantly reduced unplanned outages compared to last year. By April Week-3, unplanned outages dropped by nearly 70%, from 13,271 in 2025 to 3,974 in 2026, reflecting the impact of ongoing infrastructure strengthening.”
Sanjeev Arora added, “PSPCL teams are working round the clock to ensure reliable power supply to domestic, agricultural, industrial, and commercial consumers during the peak summer season.”
Reassuring the public, he concluded, “The people of Punjab are assured that PSPCL is fully geared up to meet the challenge of rising demand and provide quality power supply across the state.”
During the press conference, Basant Garg IAS, Chairman PSPCL, Inderpal Singh, Director Distribution, and Shoikat Roy, Member PDC, were also present.
