Mann’s govt in Punjab was able to bring smiles to the faces of power consumers in the first year of its rule – Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Punjab Government led by Bhagwant Mann Chief Minister Punjab has achieved various miles stones in Power sector during the last one year in the state. There are visible outcome of the initiatives taken by the Punjab Government in power sector like facilities to consumers, Punjab has enhanced available transmission capacity, efforts for addition of power generation to meet the rising demand in the state, an action plan of Rs. 25,237 Cr. to improve the quality and reliable power to the consumers and jobs to the eligible candidates etc.
Punjab state power corporation limited is looking after the generation and distribution spheres of Power sector whereas Punjab state transmission corporation limited handling the transmission of the electricity of the state.
After Delhi, Punjab is the second state in the country, where facility of free electricity 600 units for two months/ 300 units per month is being provided to all domestic consumers in the Punjab since July 1, 2022.Presently nearly 90% of the domestic consumers of Punjab are getting zero electricity bills.
A voluntary disclosure scheme launched by PSPCL, in which 1.96 lac agriculture consumers have enhanced their around 8 lac BHP load of their tube well motors and saved Rs. 180 crores by availing the benefit of this scheme.
On the directions of the Punjab govt. 8 hours regular power supply has been provided to agriculture consumers during paddy season 2022, without imposing any restrictions on all other categories of consumers in the state. During the paddy season, 20 days advanced power supply was provided in the areas using water saving technique of direct rice sowing.
This becomes possible with the support of the robust transmission network of Punjab State Transmission Corporation limited. Punjab became able and met with the power demand of 15000 MW during the paddy season 2022.
With the efforts of A.Venu Prasad ACS to Chief Minister Punjab cum CMD PSTCL, the matter taken up with the Power System Operating Corporation limited has enhanced the ATC/TTC (available transfer capability/total transfer capability) limits from 7100/7700 MW to 8500/9000 MW of PSTCL.
Punjab has met its all time highest ever peak demand of 14,311 MW on June 29,2022.Despite the nationwide coal crisis during 2022, record energy demand was met during summer season from April to September 2022 which is 13% higher in comparison to the same period of last year (i.e 43,149 MUs vs 38,204 MUs). It is to mention here that overall energy demand met during the current financial year from April, 2022 to February, 2023 is 12% more from last year corresponding period (i.e 64,952 MUs vs 57,765 MUs).
With an aim to provide 24×7 reliable power, the Punjab Government has approved an action plan of Rs. 25,237 Cr. to improve the quality and reliability of power supply to the consumers. Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) is an ambitious flagship scheme aimed at improving the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of the distribution companies through a robust and sustainable distribution network.
Under RDSS scheme various infrastructure works like commissioning of 94 new 66 KV sub stations and installation and augmentation of 89 and 382 66/ 11 KV power transformers respectively shall be carried out. Besides this, 2,015 circuit kilometers of 66 KV transmission lines shall be erected under this scheme for system strengthening and its modernization along with installation of 23,687 11KV distribution transformers and erection of 15,859 circuit kilometers of HT/LT lines.
Similarly, for loss reduction, 600 circuit kilometers of 66 KV lines/underground cables shall also be erected along with installation of 2,83,349 new distribution transformers under High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) and erection of 1,10,117 circuit kilometers of HT/LT lines shall be carried out..
In addition to above, IT enabling works like SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and OMS (Outage Management System), Customer Care Centers, Unified Billing Solution are also to be carried out.
With the implementation of all these works besides the loss reduction, reliability, and quality of power supply in the state shall further be improved which will benefit more than one Crore electricity consumers of the state. Out of the total project amount of Rs. 25,237 Cr, grant of Rs. 11,632 Cr. will be provided by the Govt. of India as gross budgetary support under this scheme.
Govt. of India’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has been sanctioned for the state of Punjab with an outlay of Rs. 3816 Cr. for carrying out Loss reduction works.
Under this scheme, feeder segregation of around 216 Kandi mixed load feeders, Bifurcation of overload & lengthy feeders, installation of New Distribution Transformers, Reconductoring of HT/LT line, 40 no. new 66 KV substations including compact GIS Substations, addition & augmentation of 66 kV Power Transformers, Unified Billing Solution and various other IT/OT works will be carried out.
In order to meet the ever-increasing power demand of the Punjab, during financial year 2022-23,7 number new 66 KV sub stations with a capacity of 110.50 MVA in the state added by transmission wing. There are 816 nos 66/11 sub-stations in Punjab with aggregate capacity of around 25000 MVA.
Keeping in view of the rising power demand in the Punjab, PSPCL has also focussed for additional power generation for the state. The construction work of Shahpurkandi Power Project with a capacity of 206 MW is on war footing. Unit No.1,2 and 3 of power house no. 1 is likely to start generation in May,June and July 2025 respectively. Similarly unit 1,2,3 and 4 of power house no.2 is likely to start generation in May,June July and Oct., 2025 respectively. It is mentioned here that the 95% work of the hydel channel has been completed and more than 95% excavation work and more than 81% concerting work of the dam has also completed.
Besides this procurement of 1000 MW solar power from projects anywhere in India and 200 MW solar power from projects within Punjab from M/s SJVN is under process.
PSPCL is making continuous efforts for increasing the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix to achieve the sustainable development goals set at national level for clean and affordable energy by 2030.
On the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Mann PSPCL has taken the long pending issue of Pachhwara Coal Mine with the concerned quarters and smartly managed to overcome the challenges in starting operations of Pachhwara Coal Mine which was closed for past seven years due to legal issues. Chief Minister Punjab has received first rake of coal at GGSSTP Ropar on Dec.,16,2022. Till date 2,80,000 MT coal has been produced and about 76 rakes have been despatched to PSPCL Power Stations. The regular coal supplies from Pachhwara Central coal mine shall help thermal power stations of Punjab in meeting the deficient coal supplies from CIL sources. Power consumers of state will be most benefitted due to cheap power on account of lesser coal cost.
PSPCL caters to more than one crore consumers across the state of Punjab. The corporation has more than 9000 dedicated complaint staff, working in 24X7 shifts, to resolve supply related complaints of consumers divided in 500 sub division offices across the state.
PSPCL has a robust customer care system in place reachable on a single toll free number 1912 for the state. The calls to 1912 are handled at a 120-seater Electricity Call Centre at Ludhiana operating 24X7. 104 number Nodal Complaint Centres have been established all across Punjab to monitor resolution of complaints to the satisfaction of consumers. 5 no zonal control rooms and 1 no control room in head office have also been established. Apart from this, consumers can also register their complaints by dialing a missed call on 18001801512. Now consumers can register their electricity complaints through WhatsApp on 9646101912.
In this era of social media PSPCL social media control room team is available 24×7 on various social media platforms like WhatsApp (96461-06835), Facebook fb.com/PSPCLPb, Twitter twitter.com/PSPCLPb and email [email protected] to provide better service to the consumers of the State.
During the financial year 2022-2023, PSPCL has successfully recruited 1204 eligible candidates of 11 different categories and also provided jobs to 193 persons on compassionate grounds on regular basis. Besides this, 2424 appointment letters are likely to be issued in very near future. PSPCL successfully carried out test for selection of 2100 Nos. of ALMs. And currently selection process of 2100 Nos of ALMs is progress. Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited has provided jobs to 750 eligible candidates in different categories in the last one year.
On the basis of extra ordinary performance and efforts of human resources department of PSPCL, Central electricity authority has extended the validity of recognition of Technical training institute, Patiala as grade A category-1 upto 10-12-2026.
Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd. has been awarded as top performer among all DISCOM’s PAN India for Energy Conservation measures under PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) program of Ministry of Power Government of India.
It is informed that 80,686 nos Energy saving certificates (ESCerts) were issued to PSPCL during PAT cycle-II by Ministry of Power. The value of each ESCert is around Rs.1,840 thus total value of Rs 14.84 Crore and these can be traded at Power Exchanges. The Top performer award and letter of appreciation was given to PSPCL by R .K. Singh Cabinet Minister of Power ,Government of India at Delhi.
Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to control the menace of power theft and there are clear instructions to the PSPCL to take strict action against tainted consumers. The teams of the enforcement and distribution wings are conducting regular checking in all zones of PSPCL and taking stern actions besides imposing fine.The consumers /citizens can contribute to the drive against theft by providing genuine information on Whatsapp no. 96461-75770. The identity of informers will not be disclosed to anyone.
The writer is a Deputy Secretary Pubic Relations, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, Patiala. His phone is 9646177800 and E.mail is [email protected]
(The views expressed are personal)
