Punjab has recorded a sharp 12% rise in maximum power demand as an intense heatwave grips the region, driving electricity consumption to new highs.
In early April, power consumption remained 7–21% lower than last year. However, over the past 10 days, soaring temperatures have triggered a dramatic spike in demand. The state’s peak load surged from around 7,900 MW on April 15 to over 12,000 MW by April 25.
The trend mirrors the national scenario, where power demand has reached record levels. India registered an all-time peak demand of 252 GW on April 24 about 7% higher than last year largely due to an early and severe heatwave.
Despite the surge, national power supply stands at approximately 239 GW, leaving a deficit of around 13 GW. The situation has been worsened by gas-based power plant shutdowns linked to LNG shortages amid the Iran conflict. States across the country are reporting significant power shortages, with only 1–3% clearance on the Real-Time Market (RTM) during peak hours.
Mission Roshan Punjab Shows Impact
The state government’s flagship Mission Roshan Punjab initiative is helping reduce outages despite rising demand. Unplanned power cuts have declined compared to last year, reflecting ongoing upgrades to the electricity infrastructure.
An investment of over ₹6,000 crore is being made to modernise Punjab’s power distribution network. The project includes setting up 70 new substations, upgrading 200 existing ones, and installing or augmenting 8,000 distribution transformers.
So far, 688 feeders have been de-loaded to reduce overloading-related failures. Around 41,000 new distribution transformers have been installed, with 8,380 upgraded. Additionally, seven new 66 kV substations have been commissioned and 82 power transformers completed.
Measures to Tackle Power Crisis
To manage the growing demand and prevent major disruptions, several steps are being taken:
- Planned outages have been capped at a maximum of four hours to minimise inconvenience.
- Power banking agreements for 1,500–2,000 MW with other states are in advanced stages.
- State-run hydel plants, affected by the 2025 floods, are expected to return to full capacity by May 10, adding 300 MW.
- Additional procurement from other states and private players is securing around 1,500 MW.
- Punjab plans to draw about 2,000 MW from the central power pool during peak summer.
- Short-term tenders have been floated to procure surplus power quickly.
- Wheeling charges and cross-subsidy have been waived from 6 pm to 6 am for two months to ease the load.
Authorities say work is progressing at a “war footing” to stabilise the power supply and ensure uninterrupted electricity during the peak summer season.