Chandigarh, 27 April (H.S.): Facing a sharp and sudden surge in electricity demand driven by an intense heatwave, the Bhagwant Mann Government has moved swiftly to ensure uninterrupted power supply across Punjab, with Power Minister Sanjeev Arora asserting that Punjab remains firmly in control even as demand skyrocketed from 7,900 MW to over 12,000 MW within just ten days.

Addressing a press conference, Arora stated that the the Punjab government has assured that there will be no power shortage from May 1, even as consumers may face temporary disruptions over the next few days. Power Minister Sanjeev Arora on Monday said the state is fully prepared to handle the surge and maintain uninterrupted supply.

The minister acknowledged that due to extreme weather conditions, some areas may experience power cuts for up to three days. However, he assured that the situation will stabilize soon and adequate arrangements are in place to meet future demand without disruption.

Highlighting the state’s preparedness, Arora said that negotiations are underway to secure an additional 1,500 to 2,000 MW of electricity through banking arrangements with other states. Besides this, Punjab is also procuring nearly 1,500 MW of extra power from private sources and preparing to draw around 2,000 MW from the central power pool.

He further informed that hydel power plants damaged in the 2025 floods are being restored, which is expected to add 300 MW capacity in the coming days. Short-term tenders have also been floated to procure surplus electricity available in the market.

Under the ‘Mission Roshan Punjab’ initiative, the government is investing over ₹6,000 crore to strengthen the power infrastructure. This includes setting up 70 new substations, upgrading 200 existing ones, installing thousands of distribution transformers, and reducing load on feeders to prevent faults.

Arora also noted a significant improvement in system reliability, with unplanned outages dropping by nearly 70% compared to last year. He said PSPCL teams are working round the clock to ensure smooth supply to domestic, agricultural, industrial, and commercial consumers.

At the national level, the minister pointed out that India recently recorded a peak demand of 252 GW, leading to a supply deficit. However, Punjab remains better positioned than many other states due to proactive planning and timely interventions.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH