Punjab PSPCL announces planned power outages opposition slams AAP govt

    Patiala, Apr 22 (PTI) The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited on Wednesday announced a series of scheduled power shutdowns across several major cities in the state as part of a massive drive to modernise the state's electricity distribution network.
    Reacting to the announcement, the SAD and the Congress lashed out at the Bhagwant Mann government over the power outages, accusing it of pushing the state into a "severe electricity crisis".
    The PSPCL issued a formal appeal to the public to plan their daily routines and essential chores in accordance with the announced schedule.
    The power body has embarked on a specialised campaign to upgrade ageing infrastructure, including the replacement of old wiring, maintenance of transformers, and general system reinforcement.
    According to an official spokesperson, these measures are "pre-emptive steps" taken to ensure a seamless power supply during the upcoming peak summer season.
    Power minister Sanjeev Arora said the planned outages aim to improve power supply through system upgrades. "The inconvenience caused is regretted, but these improvements will greatly benefit consumers in the long run," Arora said in a post on X.
    The scheduled power outages come at a time when maximum temperatures are hovering around 38 to 40 degrees Celsius in Punjab. The maintenance work will impact residential, commercial, and industrial hubs in areas, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Khanna, Bathinda and Mohali.
    A PSPCL spokesperson stated that the "modernisation" project involves shifting overhead cables, upgrading transformer capacities, and integrating smarter distribution technology.
    "While the temporary inconvenience is regretted, these upgrades are essential to prevent frequent breakdowns during the high-demand summer months. We are focusing on making the distribution system more robust and aesthetically cleaner by streamlining urban power lines," the spokesperson added.
    Industrial units, particularly in Ludhiana and Jalandhar, have been advised to manage their shifts to minimise production losses during the maintenance windows.
    Reacting to the upcoming power outages, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that the state was facing a serious electricity shortfall and prolonged outages, contrary to earlier claims of being "power surplus."
    Majithia said the gap between demand and supply has widened to around 1500 MW and is expected to increase further with rising temperatures.
    He pointed out that in the third week of April, amid heatwave conditions, both urban and rural areas are witnessing unplanned power cuts ranging from 8 to 10 hours.     
    "Electricity demand has risen from around 6500 MW to nearly 10,000 MW, while PSPCL has been unable to keep pace," he claimed in a statement.
    Targeting the state leadership, Majithia alleged that the government was attempting to offset the financial burden of free power by resorting to long power cuts.
    Congress MLA Pargat Singh also hit out at the AAP government, alleging that it claimed Punjab was in a power surplus state, but has now pushed the state into "severe power crisis".
    Singh stated that the power situation in Punjab has "deteriorated" to such an extent that even in the third week of April 2026, amid severe heat and heatwave alerts, unannounced power cuts of 8 to 10 hours have begun in cities and villages.
    Claiming that the situation has become particularly serious in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, and Patiala, Singh warned that if conditions continue, long outages may also occur during nighttime. "The Punjab power utility has failed to bridge the electricity shortage," he said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)