“Punjab Ready for Record Power Demand Surge, Ensures Uninterrupted Supply Amid Heatwave”
Demand surges from 7,900 MW to over 12,000 MW in just 10 days; PSPCL maintains stability
₹6,000+ crore ‘Mission Roshan Punjab’ strengthens power infrastructure
Unplanned outages drop by nearly 70% ahead of peak summer demand
Chandigarh, April 27
Amid a sharp rise in electricity demand due to an intense heatwave, the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has taken swift and decisive steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply across the state. Power Minister Sanjeev Arora stated that Punjab remains well-prepared and in control, even as demand surged dramatically from 7,900 MW to over 12,000 MW within just ten days.
Backed by a major ₹6,000+ crore investment under Mission Roshan Punjab and a significant reduction of nearly 70% in unplanned outages, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has successfully maintained grid stability. While several states across the country are facing power shortages, Punjab stands out as one of the better-prepared states to handle peak summer demand.
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Addressing a press conference, Sanjeev Arora emphasized that the government has made comprehensive preparations to tackle the surge in demand caused by the ongoing heatwave. He assured that PSPCL is fully equipped to ensure smooth and uninterrupted electricity supply across the state.
Highlighting the demand spike, he noted that Punjab witnessed a steep increase in power consumption over a short period, rising from around 7,900 MW on April 15 to more than 12,000 MW by April 25—an increase of nearly 12% compared to last year. Despite this, PSPCL has managed the situation effectively through advance planning, robust infrastructure, and timely power arrangements.
Referring to the national scenario, Arora pointed out that India recorded an all-time peak demand of 252 GW on April 24, while supply stood at around 239 GW, leaving a deficit of 13 GW. In contrast, Punjab has maintained stability due to proactive planning and preparedness.
He added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has directed all departments to work in mission mode to ensure that citizens do not face inconvenience due to power cuts.
Detailing the measures taken, Arora said that negotiations are underway to secure an additional 1,500 to 2,000 MW of power through banking arrangements with other states. Restoration of hydel power plants damaged during the 2025 floods is also progressing, with an expected addition of 300 MW capacity soon.
The state has already arranged nearly 1,500 MW of additional power through procurement from other states and private sources and is preparing to draw up to 2,000 MW from the central power pool. Competitive short-term tenders have also been issued to procure surplus power. Additionally, the government has waived wheeling charges and cross-subsidy between 6 PM and 6 AM for two months to encourage greater power availability.
Under Mission Roshan Punjab, significant infrastructure upgrades are underway. These include the construction of 70 new substations, upgrading of 200 existing ones, installation and augmentation of thousands of distribution transformers, and de-loading of 688 feeders to reduce faults caused by overloading. Several new substations and transformers have already been commissioned.
On system reliability, Arora highlighted that unplanned outages have reduced sharply—from 13,271 in 2025 to 3,974 in 2026 by the third week of April—demonstrating the positive impact of infrastructure improvements.
He further stated that PSPCL teams are working round the clock to ensure reliable power supply to domestic, agricultural, industrial, and commercial consumers during the peak summer season.
Reassuring the public, the Power Minister said that Punjab is fully prepared to meet rising electricity demand and will continue to provide quality and uninterrupted power supply across the state.
Senior officials, including PSPCL Chairman Basant Garg (IAS), Director Distribution Inderpal Singh, and Member PDC Shoikat Roy, were also present at the press conference.
