Punjab power crisis: Two Ropar thermal plant units shut down as demand crosses 17,000 MW
Punjab's power demand has hit a fresh peak of 17,423 MW, while two Ropar thermal plant units remain shut amid a sharp rise in electricity consumption
PTC Web Desk: Punjab continues to face pressure on its power supply as electricity demand in the state remains above 17,000 MW. At a time when consumption is also rising steadily, two units of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant in Ropar have stopped functioning, adding to concerns over electricity availability.
With the two units out of operation, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is having to rely more heavily on electricity purchased from the central pool to meet the state's demand.
Punjab Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, however, has said that the state did not impose any power cuts between September 12 and 14. He also maintained that Punjab did not face a shortage despite two Ropar units, with a combined capacity of 150 MW according to his statement, remaining shut.
The latest disruption comes after technical problems had earlier affected units at the private thermal power plants in Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura. Some of those units have since resumed generation, but the shutdown of units at the government-owned Ropar plant has kept pressure on the state's power supply system.
According to the available generation figures, two Ropar units are currently completely out of service. The remaining units are also generating below their full capacity, with one producing around 133 MW and another generating approximately 65 MW. The figures have added to concerns as Punjab continues to record high electricity demand.
Punjab's electricity demand rises sharply
Official monthly data shows a significant increase in Punjab's electricity demand during 2026. The state's maximum demand rose from 12,025 MW in April to 17,277 MW in July.
By September 13, the state's maximum demand for the month had already reached 16,598 MW, compared with 13,127 MW during the corresponding period last year. This represents an increase of around 26 per cent.
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The latest peak demand has now reached 17,423 MW, which is 146 MW higher than the earlier April-to-September peak of 17,277 MW.
The rise is also visible in the state's overall electricity consumption. From April 1 to September 13, Punjab recorded consumption of 46,696 million units (MU), compared with 41,072 MU during the same period last year. This amounts to an increase of about 14 per cent.
July recorded consumption of 10,765 MU, up from 9,362 MU during the same month last year, an increase of around 15 per cent. In August, consumption climbed to 10,340 MU, compared with 8,265 MU a year earlier, marking a rise of nearly 25 per cent.
The increase has been particularly sharp in September. During the first 13 days of the month, Punjab consumed 4,237 MU, compared with 2,478 MU during the corresponding period last year. The figures indicate an increase of about 71 per cent.
With demand continuing to remain high and some generating units unavailable, the state's power supply position remains under pressure. PSPCL is using purchases from the central pool to bridge the gap between available generation and demand, while the performance of thermal power units remains an important factor in managing the situation.