Chandigarh, May 30
Due to severe thunderstorm and rain in Punjab the power demand dipped to a record low of 4721 MW on Saturday morning, giving much needed relief to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) before the start of the paddy season on June 1 and the people of the state from the heat wave. The power demand, which was at 8650 MW, at 8.30 hours, continued to slide and reached a low of 4721 MW, by noon.
Punjab’s own thermal units and private thermal units in the state were running at half load. The thermal generation was 1350 MW, private generation at 1624 MW and solar generation at 157 MW in the state. At one time, Punjab was underdrawing 3752 MW from its schedule of over 7500 MW. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday revised its seasonal rainfall forecast downward from 92 per cent of the long-period average to 90 per cent with a 60 per cent probability of a deficient season. During the first heatwave, the maximum demand in Punjab crossed 14000 MW and during the second heatwave days it remained between 13600 MW to 13800 MW.
Last week the daily power supply was between 2592 LU to 2782 LU. Favourable weather during this period may give relief to PSPCL for the next few days relief from increase in power demand with the start of the first phase of paddy supply from June 1. The energy-intensive paddy transplantation season drives a massive chunk of summer power demand as agricultural tubewells run for extended hours.
The proliferation of cooling appliances and urban expansion significantly strains the grid. Rising domestic and agricultural connected loads are heavily influenced by the state government’s subsidized and free power schemes. The demand in adjoining states of Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh at noon was 9000 MW, 1600 MW and 230 MW.
