Demand for power drops in Punjab due to rains

The widespread rains lashing northern region today led to significant drop in demand for power, which may help the power utility PSPCL to build up its coal stock that has already reached "critical" stage.
With the demand for power coming down considerably, the PSPCL today reduced its power generation by backing down units at Ropar, Bathinda, Lehra Mohabbat and Rajpura thermal power plants.
Following the extensive rains in several parts of Punjab, the demand for power went down from 2,200 lakh units per day prevailing couple of days ago to 1,100-1,200 lakh units now, PSPCL official said today.
"The demand for power has dropped sharply because of rains. It will help us to build up coal stock at our thermal units," Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) Director (Distribution) K L Sharma said today.

PSPCL's thermal power plants were facing "acute shortage" of coal supply as they were left with coal stock for just 2-3 days, forcing it to resort to unscheduled power cuts in the state.
PSPCL today backed down 5 units (210 MW each) of Ropar plant, 2 units (110 MW) of Bathinda plant, two units (250 MW) of Lehra Mohabbat and Rajpura plant (660 MW) because of drop in demand for power.
Widespread rainfall today lashed most parts of Punjab and Haryana plummeting the maximum temperature by up to two degrees celsius in the region.
Rains lashed various parts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Talwandi Sabo, Faridkot, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib.