Earlier this month, a thunderstorm accompanied by strong winds damaged several electric poles and transformers in Punjab, causing disruption in power supply and causing significant losses to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).
Although power cuts continued in some areas due to damage to transformers, high-tension cables and electric poles, initial estimates suggest PSPCL has suffered an immediate loss of about Rs 20 crore — the highest in recent years. The maximum damage occurred in the border and central zones of the power utility.
Extreme weather patterns, driven by climate change indicators such as intense heat and erratic, heavy rainfall, have emerged as the most pressing threat to Punjab’s electricity transmission and distribution network.
financial loss
In the last five years, Punjab’s power sector has suffered a loss of more than Rs 500 crore due to climate-related disruptions. This year alone, PSPCL has already incurred a loss of Rs 50 crore, largely due to changing weather patterns.
The utility suffered a loss of more than Rs 105 crore during the 2025 floods. This was a far cry from the annual losses caused by summer storms. According to PSPCL’s 2025 flood assessment report, 2,322 distribution transformers were damaged or submerged, 7,114 electric poles were broken or washed away, and 864 km of conductors and supply lines were damaged. PSPCL also suffered structural damage worth crores to its office building, control room and heavy equipment. A senior PSPCL official said, “The flood caused extensive damage. Transformers, poles and lines were submerged or washed away. Our teams worked round the clock to restore power to essential sub-stations and villages.” structural weaknesses
“High winds not only downright down lines, but they also break tree branches and cause old trees to fall on overhead distribution lines. This can quickly break or short-circuit power lines. In cultivated areas, excessive soil erosion around low tension (LT) and extra high tension (EHT) poles weakens the foundation, causing them to uproot during storms Are,” says an old PSPCL engineer.
He also emphasizes structural degradation: “Outsourcing of line work has led to poor construction quality. Poorly installed poles are easily uprooted during storms. To maintain safety and quality, these critical construction tasks should be performed by regular, in-house staff.”
crisis throughout the country
Punjab is not alone, with extreme weather events causing back-to-back failures in India’s power infrastructure. The Center for Science and Environment’s (CSE) annual report on India’s environment highlights how these climate-driven grid disruptions now compromise economic stability and public health across the country.
Neighboring Himachal Pradesh mostly suffers infrastructure damage from heavy snowfall or hail, while Punjab’s flat terrain makes its grid particularly vulnerable to fast-moving storms.
Reactive to proactive approach
Power sector experts believe that climate resilience is no longer an optional strategy. However, lack of human resources remains a major obstacle. “In Punjab, most transmission towers and poles are installed by non-technical, outsourced contractors who do not have much experience in safety requirements,” says a senior engineer at PSPCL. “Successive governments have failed to hire permanent staff, so vital supply infrastructure remains heavily dependent on contract labour.”
VK Gupta, spokesperson of the All India Power Engineers Federation, emphasizes the need for anticipatory planning rather than reactive relief. “Experiencing extreme weather on this scale is no longer a fluke; it is a sign of a changing baseline,” he says. “State governments should create climate risk observatories and engage environmental groups in technical, fact-based studies before planning system upgrades.”
Experts call for incorporating long-term climate resilience directly into utility planning and grid investment decisions. “States can protect critical infrastructure, protect communities, and ensure a reliable energy grid for decades to come,” says a senior engineer at PSPCL.
