Punjab: India is likely to experience hotter than normal April to June, with the IMD predicting more heatwave days, with power demand in the state estimated to rise by 8% this year. The maximum power demand may cross 17,000 MW during the paddy season, which will begin on June 1 this year. The maximum demand was 14,311 MW in June 2022, 15,293 MW in June 2023 and 16,058 MW in June last year. “Climate change-induced heat stress is one of the major factors driving power demand. According to an IMD report, the coming summer months are likely to be hotter than normal. This may result in more heatwave days in the state, which means more power consumption. With the early paddy season, power demand is likely to rise sharply,” said VK Gupta, spokesperson for the All India Power Engineers Federation. Last year, the state power utility company Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had successfully met a record power demand of 16,058 MW.
However, the unrestricted maximum demand had reached 16,800 MW. “The increase in demand is attributed to rising temperatures and the peak paddy transplanting season, which leads to a substantial increase in power consumption. Currently, industry, households and agriculture account for 38%, 30% and 19% of the total power consumption in the state,” said a former chief engineer of PSPCL. While the state generates 6,000 to 6,500 MW of power from its own sources, it receives around 10,000 MW from the grid through power purchase agreements and banking arrangements. “The state’s 4,800 MW share in the central sector and short-term banking arrangements for BBMB plants and solar power are likely to help PSPCL meet this year’s peak demand,” a senior Powercom official said. This year, all the state sector thermal power units at Lehra Mohabbat, Ropar and Goindwal Sahib will be run to their maximum capacity. Besides, there are private thermal plants at Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo. “However, the issue of concern right now is the availability of hydropower. Hydropower generation may be low due to low water levels in Ranjit Sagar dam and Bhakra reservoir. We are keeping a close watch on the situation,” a PSPCL official said.
