Punjab Power Crisis: Engineers Demand Urgent Appointments as PSPCL Cracks Down on Defaulters

The Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers’ Association has urged the government to expedite the appointment of key leadership positions in PSPCL, PSTCL, and PSERC to address power sector challenges ahead of the high-demand summer season. Meanwhile, PSPCL has intensified its crackdown on bill defaulters, disconnecting over 500 connections and recovering ₹97.67 lakh in dues. Officials emphasize the need for timely payments and regulatory oversight to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

CONTENTS:

• Punjab Engineers’ Association Urges Swift Appointment of Power Sector Leadership
• Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers Urge Swift Appointment of CMD, Directors
• PSPCL Cracks Down on Bill Defaulters, Disconnects Over 500 Connections

Punjab Power Crisis: Engineers Demand Urgent Appointments as PSPCL Cracks Down on Defaulters

Punjab Engineers’ Association Urges Swift Appointment of Power Sector Leadership

Punjab Power Crisis: The Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers’ Association has called for the swift completion of the appointment process for key positions in the state’s power sector. These include the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), Directors for PSPCL and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL), and the Member (Technical) of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC).

Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, General Secretary of the association, stated that a letter was sent to the Chief Minister on Wednesday, highlighting the urgent challenges faced by the power sector. The letter stressed the need for immediate appointments to ensure adequate preparations for the upcoming paddy season.

The association emphasized that appointing a CMD for PSPCL and filling director-level positions in PSPCL and PSTCL would reinforce the government’s commitment to an efficient and reliable power supply. It would also ensure that the necessary expertise is available to navigate the high-demand summer season.

Notably, the Punjab government had invited applications for the posts of CMD, Director of Distribution, Director of Commercial, and Director of HR for PSPCL, as well as Director of Technical for PSTCL, in September last year. However, as a temporary measure, the Secretary (Power) was given charge of CMD PSPCL on February 6. Additionally, the tenures of the Director of Distribution and Director of Commercial are set to end on February 28.

The association also raised concerns about the prolonged vacancy of the CMD position at PSTCL, which has remained unfilled for 14 years, as well as the vacant role of the Chief Electrical Inspector. Furthermore, it urged the immediate appointment of the Member (Technical) at PSERC, a position that has been vacant for over two years, to maintain regulatory oversight.

With rising energy consumption expected to strain the state’s power infrastructure, the association underscored the importance of timely leadership appointments to manage generation, transmission, and distribution effectively.

Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers Urge Swift Appointment of CMD, Directors

Punjab Power Crisis:  The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Engineers’ Association has called for the immediate completion of the appointment process for key leadership positions in the state’s power sector. These include the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), Directors for PSPCL and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL), and the Member (Technical) of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC).

Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, the association’s General Secretary, stated that a letter was sent to the Chief Minister on Wednesday, highlighting the urgent need to address the challenges faced by the power sector and ensure timely preparations for the upcoming paddy season. The letter emphasized that filling these crucial positions would not only reinforce the government’s commitment to providing a stable and efficient power supply but also bring in the expertise required to manage the high-demand summer season.

The Punjab government had invited applications for the posts of CMD, Director of Distribution, Director of Commercial, and Director of HR at PSPCL, as well as Director of Technical at PSTCL, back in September last year. However, as a temporary measure, the Secretary (Power) was assigned the role of CMD for PSPCL on February 6. Meanwhile, the tenures of the Director of Distribution and Director of Commercial are set to expire on February 28.

According to available data and energy demand projections, the state’s power infrastructure—including generation, transmission, and distribution—will be under immense strain during the summer. Rising energy consumption, particularly due to increased agricultural and household demand, is expected to test the power sector’s capacity to ensure an uninterrupted supply.

The association also expressed concern over the prolonged vacancy of the CMD position at PSTCL, which has remained unfilled for 14 years, as well as the unoccupied role of Chief Electrical Inspector. Furthermore, it stressed the urgency of appointing the Member (Technical) at PSERC, a position that has been vacant for over two years, to maintain proper regulatory oversight.

PSPCL Cracks Down on Bill Defaulters, Disconnects Over 500 Connections

Punjab Power Crisis:  In a major crackdown on electricity bill defaulters, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on Saturday disconnected over 500 power connections across Kharar, Kurali, Gharuan, Majra, and Morinda. The enforcement drive also resulted in the recovery of ₹97.67 lakh from consumers who cleared their outstanding dues.

According to PSPCL officials, more than 1,000 connections were inspected during the operation. Of these, half were disconnected, while the remaining consumers settled their overdue payments. The disconnected connections spanned residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

A senior PSPCL official stated, “This enforcement drive will continue across the state with full intensity. Multiple teams have been deployed under the supervision of Chief Engineer RK Mittal, South Zone, Patiala. Additionally, we are actively educating consumers on avoiding legal consequences related to unauthorized electricity use. It is crucial for defaulters to clear their long-pending dues to prevent disconnection.”

The official also urged consumers experiencing technical payment issues to visit their nearest PSPCL office or utilize online payment platforms to ensure a smooth transaction process.