Chandigarh/Ludhiana, September 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab has met its highest-ever electricity demand of 17,423 MW without imposing power cuts due to shortage, while maintaining 24×7 supply to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural consumers, Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Ludhiana, Sond said the state had managed the unprecedented demand despite a sharp rise in consumption during the paddy season.
“From 7 AM yesterday, September 13, until now, no power cuts due to electricity shortage have been imposed in Punjab. Along with this, continuous 24×7 electricity supply has been ensured for all four major sectors — residential, commercial, industrial and agriculture,” he said.
Sond said Punjab’s electricity demand, which normally remained around 13,100 MW in September in previous years, had risen to 16,600 MW this year, representing an additional requirement of around 3,500 MW.
He said two private thermal plants had developed technical problems during the paddy season, but Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) teams worked round the clock to restore them. He added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had directed the government to provide farmers two additional hours of electricity to compensate for earlier 2-3 hour disruptions.
Sond also attributed the recent power crisis partly to what he described as coal cuts by the Centre and non-release of Punjab’s claimed 1,000 MW power share. He said another private plant from which Punjab purchases electricity had resumed operations, adding 100 MW to the state’s supply.
Highlighting the purchase of the Guru Amardas Thermal Plant, Sond said the facility had proved crucial in meeting the record demand. He said all 10 thermal units were currently operating at full capacity and argued that the situation would have been far more critical had the state government not acquired the plant.
Official data cited by the minister showed Punjab’s maximum demand met had risen from 12,025 MW in April to 17,277 MW in July and 16,598 MW by September 13. The latest peak of 17,423 MW surpassed the earlier April-September peak by 146 MW.
Power consumption from April to September 13 rose 14 per cent to 46,696 million units (MUs), compared with 41,072 MUs during the corresponding period last year. August consumption increased 25 per cent, while September consumption up to September 13 was 71 per cent higher year-on-year.
MLAs Chaudhary Madan Lal Bagga and Rajinderpal Kaur Chhina were also present.
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