CHANDIGARH, APRIL 27 — Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora announced on Monday that all scheduled and unscheduled power outages across the state will cease starting May 1. Addressing a press conference, the minister stated that the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has finalized its infrastructure upgrades and is now equipped to manage the surge in seasonal electricity demand.
The minister affirmed that the state witnessed an unprecedented rise in consumption during April, with demand exceeding 12,000 MW because of early heatwave conditions. He declared that such a high load has never been recorded this early in the year, surpassing the previous April average of 7,900 MW. Arora maintained that the department has taken pre-emptive steps to ensure a seamless transition into the peak summer months.
To balance the state’s power grid, the government has introduced a new policy for the industrial sector. Minister Arora stated that factories and industrial units are now authorized to purchase electricity from the open market between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. He declared that the state government will not levy any additional charges for these night-time transactions, allowing industrialists to manage their shifts more efficiently without straining the domestic supply.
“The Punjab Power Department has made all preparations to provide uninterrupted power supply to the people,” the minister asserted. He stated that the recent outages were necessary for system modernization and maintained that these improvements would prevent a crisis during the upcoming paddy sowing season.
