Miracle in Punjab State

    15th April, 2010, was the day for Punjab Government to decide whether they want further extension to dismantle Punjab State Electricity Board (P.S.E.B.), which they got 14 times since bill passed on 2003 or break the board and make two corporation, lot of speculation was on the air that Punjab Government will seek extension as it want to avoid to face confrontation with employees and farmers as harvesting season was ahead, but day before yesterday of 15th April, that is 13th April Punjab Government took decision to dismantle Punjab State Electricity Board into two corporations instead of three and they are –

• Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Powercom) – will look for power generation in the State.
• Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (Transco) – will look for power transmission in the State.

     with the inception of two corporation, along with it Punjab Government took tough steps to face the opposition from employees and farmers, but after strike of two days by employees, they return to work after getting assurance from state government that no employees of erstwhile PSEB would be retrench plus their benefits will be continue as before they were getting at the time of Punjab State Electricity Board.
     People were skeptical that any miracle will happen with this action in Punjab State as far electricity supply is concern, which was under huge power shortage not only in summer season but also in the winter season when demand of power dip to its lowest levels, but this winter they pass the time with four to five hours load shredding, but after 15th April 2010, with every passing days people find winds of change as far electricity supply is concern, and even when mercury cross the mark of 40 and 45 degree Celsius in the months of April and May respectively, but supply of electricity throughout day touches 20 to twenty one hours, and if we compare it with last year same period then temperature was around same in May but less in April months and power cuts in the state was 16 to 18 hours and neither board nor public was sure when power will come? What was the schedule of power supply? Everything was haywire and out of control of Board.
     Mid May Punjab State Electricity Regulation Commission announced new power tariffs, along with it they also included farmers to pay the electricity bills which they were getting free of cost from years plus some section of society which was getting 200 units free per months, their free units reduce from two hundred to one hundred.
     Now we are in the peak months of summer and mercury touches 49 degree Celsius but Punjab State Power Corporation declares end of load shredding and after 10th of June they will also end on to the industrial sector, which in recent time was a dream, so it is really a very good news for the Punjab industry which was legging behind in the environment of competition from other states because of increase input cost and Punjab state was on back foot of economy, which was once top in the country..
     The biggest surprise is that how power corporation was able to supply power without increasing power generation and declaring that they have surplus power in the month of peak of summer, when with same sources erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board was unable to meet the demand of power even in the last two winter season. What is the secret and magic behind it, only erstwhile PSEB and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited officials can answer exactly.