Kuldip Bhatia
Ludhiana, July 27
Though the lockdown of the industry and commercial establishments due to the pandemic has been lifted with easing of restrictions in a phased manner, industrial activities are yet to reach its pre-Covid level if the power consumption data by the industry and non-residential supply (commercial) during the first quarter of the FY 2020-21 is any indication.
A sharp drop in consumption by these two categories of consumers due to the lockdown followed by slowdown (due to various factors) had made a big dent in the revenue of the power utility, which could lead to hike in power tariff, the industry apprehends.
According to figures made available by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) headquarters, the industrial sector in the state consumed just about 5,458 lakh units (LU) of energy during April 2020 as against 14,891 LU during the corresponding period last year (drop of 63.34 per cent). Power consumption by industrial units during May and June this year was 7,542 LU (drop of 50 per cent) and 11,885 LU (drop of 18 per cent), respectively, as compared to 15,080 LU and 14,517 LU during May and June 2019.
Likewise, power consumption by the NRS (commercial) consumers also went down during this period with a drop of 37 per cent during April 2020, 32 per cent during May and 16 per cent during June.
Drop in power consumption by the industry and the NRS consumers in the region are rather more alarming for the same period with industrial units drawing 81 per cent less power in April 2020 against the corresponding period last year, followed by a drop of 60 per cent and 17.5 per cent in May and June 2020, respectively. Following almost a similar pattern, the NRS consumers drew 47 per cent, 26 per cent and 17 per cent less electricity during April-June 2020 in comparison to the same period last year.
Apprehending a sharp increase in the power tariff for all categories of consumers in the tariff order for the next financial year, All Industries and Trade Forum national president Badish K Jindal has said the PSPCL and the regulator – the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) — had made it a habit to make good all financial losses by an increase in power tariff without much bothering about reasons or background of fall in the revenue.
He said the scenario of business and industry was not going to get any better in times to come and demand for power was going to be low till the threat of pandemic remained, which, as of now, was not showing any signs of abating. The state government must formulate policies for revival of economy in advance.
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July 28, 2020 at 09:09AM
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