Chandigarh, November 10
Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora has announced that the selection process for 2,600 Apprentices (Interns) in the Lineman trade—including 2,500 for Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and 100 for Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL)—has been successfully completed.
Arora emphasized that the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government is making continuous efforts to strengthen PSPCL and PSTCL, both in terms of manpower and technical efficiency. He pointed out that with the recent appointment of 2,106 (including 2,023 Assistant Linemen, 48 Internal Auditors, and 35 Revenue Accountants), the total number of new recruitments since April 2022 has risen to 8,984, reflecting the government’s commitment to providing employment opportunities and improving the state’s power infrastructure.
In a major pro-consumer reform aimed at promoting the “Ease of Doing Business,” Punjab Power Minister Sanjeev Arora announced that the state government has simplified procedures for obtaining new power connections and for changes in load capacity.
Highlighting the move, Arora said that under the new system, applicants or consumers seeking new connections or alterations in load up to 50 kW under the LT (Low Tension) category will not be required to submit any test report from a licensed electrical contractor or any self-certification/signed document for the electrical installation of the premises. Instead, there will be a declaration in the online application form wherein the applicant will give declaration “That the internal wiring at the premises has been got executed and tested by a Licensed Electrical Contractor/Designated Officer of the Govt. and test certificate is available with the applicant.” Pertinently, total connections in PSPCL (except AP) with load below 50KW are above 99.5%.
For consumers with loads above 50 kW on LT supply, submission of a test report will remain mandatory, but PSPCL officials will not be required to verify such reports. Similarly, for all new HT (High Tension) and EHT (Extra High Tension) applicants, the inspection report by the Chief Electrical Inspector (CEI) will continue to be compulsory; however, submission of the test report will no longer be necessary, he added.
