Punjab power crisis hits industry as Ludhiana, Jalandhar faces 8-10 hour cuts. Here's what's happening in the state

Sudden power shortages in Punjab are weighing on industrial consumers, with the state’s major industrial hubs facing prolonged power cuts as Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) struggles to bridge a sharp generation gap.

Sectors in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Mohali are facing 8 to 10-hour power outages following shutdown of one unit at two private thermal power plants. The outages affected around 1,360 MW of daily generation, Hindustan Times reported.

The disruption comes at a time when demand for electricity in Punjab remains elevated amid unusually high temperatures and lack of monsoon rainfall. The state’s peak load reached 16,519 MW on Saturday as against 12,489 MW in the same period last year.

Domestic and agricultural consumers in several areas are also facing 3-4 hours of unscheduled power outage.

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Two thermal power plant units are offline

One unit each at Nabha Power’s Rajpura power plant and Talwandi Sabo power plant at Manse became non-functional. Both blocks together represent approximately 1,360 MW of production.

Both are private thermal power projects that supply electricity to Punjab.

PSPCL chairman and managing director Basant Garg confirmed that industrial consumers are facing restrictions and said restrictions have been imposed on consumers who are not connected to 66-KV lines.

“The crisis occurred after one unit of two private thermal power plants stopped functioning, affecting our own generation by 1,360 MW,” he said.

Garg said PSPCL was trying to meet the shortfall by buying electricity from the open market. However, power availability there was also limited due to a nationwide coal shortage.

Officials described the industrial restrictions as a temporary measure to manage the sudden outage in production while maintaining the wider power supply system. The off-66-kV grid sector has faced prolonged cuts as PSPCL works to balance demand with available generation and power purchases.

The restrictions are expected to be lifted once power availability improves, officials said.

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The industry is instead pushing for a one-day weekly shutdown

The long daily curtailment prompted industry representatives to seek an alternative arrangement.

“I have spoken to several industrialists on this issue and the common opinion is that instead of a daily 10-12 hour power cut, it would be better if the government asks the industries to stop for one full day every week. Daily power cuts for 10-12 hours would cost us a lot. We are already discussing this issue with the Minister of Energy,” said Undertakingsja, president of the SCICU Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Sukhbir Badal attacks the AAP government

Amid recurring blackouts, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday criticized the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for prolonged power cuts.

Speaking to reporters in Balachaur, Badal said that residents faced blackouts of up to 10 hours and compared the situation with power supply during previous SAD administrations.

“Bhagwant Mann used to say that we are giving electricity for 12 hours a day. Where is the electricity? Where Badal Saheb was providing electricity for 24 hours, now it is being reduced to 10 hours a day. They are failed people,” Badal said.

Badal pointed to the thermal power projects commissioned during the Akali Dal’s tenure and said the party would work to restore power surplus status in Punjab.

“If Akali Dal was not in power, we would not have built so many thermal power plants and there would be no electricity in Punjab today. Even now I promise to generate electricity again. From now on we will make up for these shortcomings because in these ten years Congress and AAP have completely destroyed Punjab,” he added.

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The Punjab government cites a supply gap of 3,000 MW

Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond attributed the current crisis to high demand, technical problems in private thermal power plants and the state’s inability to receive its planned share of electricity from the central pool.

“The current demand in Punjab is 17,000 MW. Our current power availability is around 14,000 MW, which is a shortfall of 3,000 MW. The three main tasks are to highlight the 1,000 MW of power we are getting from the central government, which is our right as Punjab. This time we will not get 1,000 WANI power from the central MANI government.”

The probe said state-owned production units were operating around the clock, while technical problems at private plants contributed to the supply shortfall.

“The 10 units owned by the Punjab government are running day and night, but there are two private units in Punjab…Due to a technical fault, these three units have been shut down. We lit up and started Unit 1 last night. 2 units will be lit up in 24 to 48 hours, which will help solve our 2,000 MW power shortage,” Sond added.