PSPCL surrendered unutilised power worth more than Rs 4,000 crore, the PSEB Engineers Association has claimed. The association has written a nine-page letter to the chairman-cum-managing director (CMD), stating: “The per unit cost from these IPPs has been increasing almost on yearly basis. Moreover, these IPPs are finding loopholes in the PPAs and have been indulging in litigation resulting in higher power cost to the consumers of the state. The overall impact of all such litigations will be around Rs 20,000 crore over the next remaining 20 years of the agreements.”
“Keeping in view the interests of consumers of Punjab, long term exclusive PPAs with the IIPs should be immediately cancelled under clause 14.4.5 of the PPA and like other projects power should be procured only as per actual requirement of the corporation at market competitive rates from these IPPs,” it adds. The association has made a number 42 suggestions on reducing the cost of power, structural reforms, strengthening of the distribution system, and human resource management to the PSPCL management. “PSPCL has not been able to import more power at the time of shortage when there is maximum demand during paddy season due to 400 KV system constraints.”
PSEBEA general secretary Ajay Pal Singh Atwal said PSPCL could save Rs 600 per ton on the coal cost if captive coal mine at Pachwara was made operational. “Urgent personnel attention is required to get the court case settled. There is an urgent need to bring down the tariff rates during night hours to utilise the maximum surplus power available. Power theft is increasing in police and district administration offices as they install an excess number of air-conditioners.”
