With Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) now enforcing daily power cuts lasting a staggering 8 to 10 hours across the state, the grim reality of Punjab’s energy crisis stands brutally exposed. Despite a declared availability of nearly 14,500 MW from various sources including central allocation, the harsh truth is that the AAP Government has failed to take any initiative to expand the state’s power capacity.
By the thumb rule, Punjab’s annual demand rises by nearly 500 MW every year. Yet, after the SAD‑BJP regime, neither the Congress government nor the present AAP dispensation bothered to ensure that capacity was augmented to meet the growing demand. The figures from last year already revealed the peak demand crossing 17,000 MW — a glaring mismatch that makes the crisis inevitable. When demand outstrips availability, PSPCL is left with no option but to impose crippling cuts in both domestic and industrial sectors, leaving households sweltering and industries gasping.
The only escape route lies in short-term power purchase from the open market. But with coffers empty and the government surviving on loans, even that option is unviable. Punjab, once flaunted as a “power surplus” state, now finds itself staring at a widening deficit, its citizens condemned to endure long hours without electricity in the peak of summer.
This is not just a failure of planning — it is a failure of governance across successive regimes. The refusal to invest, expand and secure Punjab’s energy future has turned the promise of surplus into a cruel mirage. The people of Punjab are paying the price for political complacency, and the crisis is only set to deepen unless urgent corrective measures are taken.
It may be mentioned here that Punjab’s power sector today is navigating one of the most turbulent phases in its history, with unprecedented political interference steadily eroding its independence, credibility and professionalism. What was once a system built on technical expertise and institutional autonomy now finds itself shackled by political compulsions, leaving the sector weakened and directionless.
Meanwhile, Punjab — which had once proactively announced the establishment of the 2 × 800 MW Ropar supercritical project to boost generation capacity and secure the state’s long-term energy future — has witnessed a dramatic reversal. Instead of being executed under government control to safeguard public interest, the establishment of these units is now being envisaged in the private sector. This shift not only undermines the original vision of self-reliance but also threatens Punjab’s long-term energy independence, placing the state’s future security at the mercy of private players.
What was meant to be a bold step towards strengthening Punjab’s energy backbone has been reduced to a compromise that risks turning the promise of energy sovereignty into a hollow slogan. The turbulence in the sector, compounded by political meddling and policy reversals, has left Punjab staring at an uncertain future — one where the people may continue to pay the price for decisions driven more by expediency than foresight.
(The author is the Editor of the website www.thenewsgateway.com. Views expressed are personal.)
