PSERC holds public hearing on 2025-26 tariff proposals

Ludhiana, January 16, 2025: Today Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) hold a public hearing in connection with determination of tariff for the year 2025-26 and forecast of ARR to take views/suggestions and objections on the petition no. 60 of 2024 by PSTCL and petition no. 61 of 2024 of PSPCL at Multi-Purpose Hall, Power Colony, Ludhiana. The meeting was chaired by Vishvajit Khanna, IAS along with Paramjit Singh, Member, Karnail Singh IAS, Secretary, J K Vaid, Director along with SEs, Xen of PSPCL/PSTCL.
 
Upkar Singh Ahuja President CICU while speaking on the subject strongly rejected the demands of PSPCL and PSTCL for additional revenue and increase of electricity tariff for the year 2025-26. He suggested that the power theft causing loss of approx. Rs. 2600 crore per year should be immediately controlled by PSPCL/PSTCL. The transmission and distribution losses should be decreased from 18% to 8% as per guidelines.
 
The power supply should be improved for good quality, regular supply without any scheduled and unscheduled power cuts to avoid significant losses to industry as well as electricity boards. Too many break downs and delayed maintenance to restart the supply is causing significant losses to PSPCL and PSTCL as well as industry. The required manpower for speedy repair and maintenance should be immediately employed which is insufficient to handle the present work load.
 
Handling of unauthorize use of electricity cases should be streamlined for quick actions and decisions. Legal panel should be framed to approve any action against industry specially for disconnection of electricity. For release new connections the time limit should be minimized and fixed.  The electricity board should purchase the electricity at the minimum rate of Rs. 2.50 per unit and supply at the reduced rates to industry.
 
PSPCL is a service sector utility and it should operate at optimum efficiency by utilizing the optimum use of resources, may it be material or man power. If the above steps are implemented effectively and efficiently the PSPCL/PSTCL will become a profit-making organization.
 
CICU Senior Members including J S Bhogal Organizing Secretary, Sanjay Dhiman VP and Kanish Kaura VP also attended the meeting to share their views. 
 
In view of the facts explained as above, the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings – CICU requested the Commission not to allow any additional revenue requirement and increase the tariff rates rather it should issue guidelines to PSPCL to reduce power tariff, cess and surcharges to consumers especially MSME, which is contributing significantly to the revenue of the PSPCL and GDP of the Nation.