REVENUE GROWTH SHOWS AAP GOVT’S COMMITMENT TOWARDS CORRUPTION FREE GOVERNANCE : HARBHAJAN SINGH ETO
Chandigarh, April 19:
Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO today said that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is making exceptional strides in enhancing consumer services, boosting revenue and implementing comprehensive operational reforms.
In a statement released here, the Power Minister underlined that PSPCL’s Commercial Department has achieved numerous significant milestones during the previous financial year through December 31, 2024, implementing strategic initiatives designed to elevate consumer experience and streamline operational processes.
Regarding the One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme, the Minister said that PSPCL launched this initiative on September 23, 2024, applicable to all categories of defaulting consumers except Agricultural Pump-set and Government connections. The scheme was designed to resolve outstanding dues as of September 30, 2023, offering substantial relief through reduced late payment interest and waiver of levied surcharges. The program remained active until December 22, 2024.
The Cabinet Minister detailed the implementation of Voluntary Disclosure Schemes (VDS), noting that the VDS for Agricultural Consumers enabled farmers to regularize additional motive load on Agricultural Tubewell Connections (as of March 7, 2024) at highly concessional rates, which was Rs.2500/BHP instead of Rs.4750/BHP for Service Connection Charges and Rs.200/BHP instead of Rs.400/BHP for Security Consumption. Available until August 22, 2024, the scheme garnered overwhelming response with 84,118 agricultural consumers enhancing 3,68,802 BHP of motor load, resulting in cumulative savings of Rs.82.98 crore for farmers.
Elaborating on the VDS for Domestic Supply (DS) and Non-Residential Supply (NRS) Consumers, he said that this initiative facilitated regularization of additional load for DS connections up to 50 kW and NRS connections up to 20 kW (as of March 7, 2024). The scheme offered 50% reduction on Service Connection Charges for additional load and remained available until August 22, 2024. Key achievements included 3,15,164 DS consumers and 15,496 NRS consumers availing the scheme, enhancement of 756,119 kW (DS) and 47,676 kW (NRS) loads and collection of Rs.85.73 crore and Rs.7.31 crore respectively toward Service Connection Charges and Security Consumption.
The Minister further said that during this period, several consumer-centric and industry-friendly initiatives were implemented to enhance ease of doing business and improve service delivery. Under industrial reforms, notable advancements included expedited demand extension, where additional Contract Demand up to 10% of sanctioned demand or 500 kVA (whichever is less) is now processed within 15 days, with consumers eligible for this benefit once every three years. Besides this, feasibility clearance requirements have been eliminated for applications with total demand between 500 kVA and 2000 kVA, dramatically reducing connection processing time. For loads up to 150 kW/kVA, normative costing has been introduced—charges are now calculated on a per kW/kVA basis regardless of line length, eliminating the need for separate demand notices in these cases. Timelines for issuing demand notices and feasibility clearance have also been shortened. Further, the voltage level capacity at 11 kV has been expanded from 4 MVA to 5 MVA, enhancing infrastructure capabilities.
The Power Minister also highlighted substantial support extended to seasonal industries and solar consumers through specialized reforms. According to Commercial Circular No. 07/2023, the settlement period for seasonal industries—including cotton ginning facilities, rice shellers, rice bran stabilization units and kinnow grading and waxing centers—has been revised from the previous cycle of October 1 to September 30 to the new period of April 1 to March 31, better aligning with operational requirements. Similarly, several measures were implemented to streamline rooftop solar plant installations. Systems up to 10 kWp now require no technical feasibility clearance, while for plants exceeding 10 kWp, the feasibility clearance timeline has been reduced to 15 days.
Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO also highlighted a major step in digital transformation initiative with the implementation of Phase-I of the Aadhaar-based e-KYC system. This initiative, aimed at simplifying the application process for new electricity connections, has been integrated into PSPCL’s Single Window System for all Domestic Supply and Non-Residential Supply connections up to 100 kW/kVA. With this innovation, applicants choosing Aadhaar verification no longer need to submit identity proof or physically sign the Agreement and Acceptance form. The entire process is now authenticated through secure Aadhaar-based e-KYC, enabling paperless and streamlined processing, representing a significant advancement toward a more consumer-friendly and digitally empowered service environment.
The Power Minister stated, “Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is experiencing an unprecedented transformation in its power sector. The recent achievements of PSPCL’s Commercial Department in FY 2024-25 exemplify our commitment to enhancing consumer services, increasing revenue and implementing operational reforms. These milestones not only demonstrate our dedication to providing uninterrupted power supply to farmers during the paddy season but also highlight our investments in digital transformation and environmental sustainability. Together, we are building a resilient and efficient power infrastructure that aligns with the aspirations of our citizens.”
