By Engr. Bhupinder Singh & By Engr. Malkeet Singh

Punjab already battles floods (“ਹੜ੍ਹਾਂ”) when rains overflow rivers. Despite dams on all three rivers and efforts to control floods, heavy monsoon rains still wreak havoc.
This year again, floods caused massive damage in many districts.

Experts warned: more rain than average. Yet, no strong preemptive steps were taken.
If dams had been kept lower, riverbanks reinforced, illegal mining stopped, and natural water paths cleared, damage could have been much less.
This is a failure of foresight across successive governments.

Now, imagine a crisis in electricity hitting Punjab with the same suddenness. Could we face a power emergency — a drought in kilowatts — just like floods? The signs warn us: yes, we might.

Rising Demand vs. Weak Production

Over the years, Punjab’s electricity demand has grown faster than we enhanced our capacity.
In 2015–16, demand was about 10,852 MW. Today, it has soared to ~17,300 MW (based on projections).
Punjab’s own generation — including state thermal plants, hydro, private power, and solar — gives only 6,000–6,500 MW internally.
To survive, we import another ~6,000 MW via long-term contracts.
So in total, Punjab’s “installed capacity” is near 13,000 MW. Anything beyond that we must buy from the electricity market (the “mandi”).

Earlier, favorable monsoons and surplus power in the grid masked this dependency. But those conditions are not guaranteed every year.
When monsoons weaken, or demand surges in the rest of India, Punjab could be left short.

On days in 2025, demand crossed 16,000 MW, putting severe pressure on Punjab’s system. The Tribune
On one day, the peak hit 15,600 MW, a record, driven by heatwaves and agricultural usage. Hindustan Times
Punjab’s dependence on external supply is rising — a risky gamble.

Why We Buy So Much Power from the Market

Why can’t Punjab fully meet its own demand? Because:

  1. Long-term contracts can’t cover demand surges. Even with agreements in place, real demand can overshoot.

  2. Punjab halted major electricity projects after 2015. No new large-scale plants were built.

  3. Some older plants will retire soon. For instance, units of the Ropar thermal plant may age out.

  4. Among new plants listed for commissioning between 2022–2032, Punjab’s share is almost negligible. Circle of Blue+2Punjab State Power Corporation Limited+2

  5. Transmission limits: to bring in more external power, Punjab had to boost its transfer capacity from ~6,400 MW to ~10,900 MW.

  6. The power “mandi” (wholesale market) sets prices and quantities — Punjab has little control over either.

This dependency means that in years with weak rainfall or grid shortages elsewhere, Punjab might be forced to buy power at steep rates — or worse, face cuts.

Punjab State Power Corporation: Lagging Leadership

In 2016, the Punjab government approved setting up three units of 800 MW at Ropar to boost state generation.
Later, a 1,320 MW thermal plant was also proposed in Mukerian.
But between 2016 and 2022, no substantial progress or execution happened.
The management put these projects in cold storage. This delay forced Punjab to lean harder on the power market.

Even now, if Ropar’s older units were to be retired, Punjab’s system would be more fragile.
Meanwhile, neighboring states like Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, are adding new capacity aggressively. Punjab is being left behind.
In recent lists of power plants to be commissioned from 2022–2032, Punjab’s contribution is nearly zero — while Haryana gets over 2,200 MW, UP 5,565 MW, Rajasthan 1,400 MW. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited+1
Punjab’s failure to invest today could bring power shortages tomorrow.

The Danger Ahead: A “Flood” of Power Cuts?

If nothing changes, Punjab could face recurring power crises — days when lights flicker, factories stall, and agriculture struggles.

  • Every year, electricity usage will grow. Projections suggest that by 2036, Punjab’s demand may cross 27,000 MW. The Times of India

  • At the same time, if old plants retire and new ones are not built, our capacity might drop below 13,000 MW.

  • During heatwaves, or when grid supply from other regions tightens — Punjab will be squeezed.

The analogy with floods is apt. Just as unchecked rains lead to inundation when we lack preparation — so too unchecked consumption and dependency can lead to power droughts.

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What Must Be Done — Urgent Remedies

Punjab cannot wait for disaster. Here are key steps:

1. Accelerate Internal Generation Projects

  • Push forward the stalled Ropar expansion and Mukerian projects.

  • Invest in new thermal, hydro, and renewable plants with speed.

  • Make Punjab’s share count in national capacity expansion plans.

2. Embrace Renewable Energy Seriously

  • Channel solar, wind, and hybrid projects across unused land, canals and rooftops.

  • Build battery storage to smooth fluctuations.

  • Promote rooftop solar in households, industries, and farms.

3. Manage Demand, Use Smarter Appliances

  • Encourage energy-efficient farming gear, motors, and lighting.

  • Demand-side management — shift usage away from peak times.

  • Use time-of-day pricing to nudge behavior.

4. Strengthen Transmission and Grid Infrastructure

  • Increase inter-regional transfer capacity further.

  • Modernize lines to reduce losses.

  • Add substations and smart distribution networks.

5. Contract Strategically, Not Reliantly

  • Use short-term market purchases only as buffers, not a backbone.

  • Negotiate flexible power purchases with better terms.

  • Diversify supply sources.

6. Policy, Oversight & Accountability

  • Create an independent power commission to audit performance.

  • Publish power procurement, usage, subsidies, and losses publicly.

  • Hold officials accountable for project delays.

7. Disaster-Aware Planning

  • Just like flood management, power planning must consider worst-case years.

  • Maintain healthy reserves, rational risk buffers.

  • Don’t rely on “good monsoon” to bail us out.

A Wake-up Call for the State

Punjab’s history has many lessons. We failed to prepare for floods; the damages taught us nothing.
Now we risk repeating that pattern with power. Clean energy, wise planning, and execution must replace excuses.

Punjab has the resources—land, revenue, human capital—to become energy self-reliant.
But pride and rhetoric won’t generate megawatts. Only action will.

If the state government, power leadership, and citizens unite — Punjab can flourish with lights always on, factories humming, farms irrigated, homes bright and cool.
If we delay, we may find ourselves in darkness — literally and metaphorically.

Punjab must act today — or brace for an electricity crisis as devastating as any flood.

Er. Bhupinder Singh Dy. CE/ PSPCL (Retd) Convenor, POWER SECTOR REFORMS FORUM psrforum2021@gmail.com

Dr. Malkit Singh ASE/ PSPCL (Retd) Joint Convenor, POWER SECTOR REFORMS FORUM @PowerReforms

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