Patiala: Widespread rainfall across Punjab caused the state’s electricity demand to fall by more than 3,000 to 4000 MW, easing pressure on the power system during the ongoing paddy season, while one generating unit each at the state-run thermal power plants in Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat remained offline, according to official generation data.The maximum demand recorded on Monday was 15,871 MW. The state’s total power demand stood at 11,868 MW on Tuesday morning, a fall from around16,000 MW-plus peak load recorded on several days.Officials indicated that Unit VI of the Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant, Ropar, faced shutdown due to low CST level, and Unit IV of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat, remained down since July 26 due to boiler leakage. It was expected to revive on Tuesday. Both these units generated 0 MW on Tuesday.According to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited officials, state-owned thermal stations together generated 1,001 MW, with Lehra Mohabbat plant contributing 423 MW, Ropar plant 300 MW, and Goindwal Sahib supplying 278 MW.Independent power producers contributed 2,334 MW, including 1,282 MW from the Rajpura thermal plant and 1,052 MW from Talwandi Sabo.Hydropower stations generated 359 MW, while renewable energy sources supplied 173 MW, comprising 132 MW from solar projects and 31 MW from other renewable sources.Punjab’s overall internal gross generation stood at 3,867 MW.
