📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Giridhar Appaji Nag Y
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Punjab Faces Record 16,619 MW Power Demand Amid Thermal Unit Outages
✍️ Amar Ujala · Punjab
🗓 12 Sep 2026, 10:19 AM
👁 4
Punjab's electricity demand hit a record 16,619 MW, pushing the state into a deeper crisis as several thermal and hydel units shut down and coal supplies fell short.
Punjab's power grid is under unprecedented strain, with demand soaring to a record 16,619 megawatts as of the latest reporting. The surge has forced the shutdown of multiple thermal and hydel power plants, leaving the state with a reduced generation capacity.
The outages include several key thermal units that have been offline for weeks, exacerbating the supply shortfall. Hydroelectric plants have also been curtailed due to lower water levels, further tightening the grid.
Compounding the problem is a noticeable decline in coal availability, the primary fuel for many thermal stations. The shortage has limited the ability of remaining plants to ramp up production, creating a vicious cycle of demand and supply gaps.
Electricity authorities are reportedly exploring emergency measures, such as importing power from neighboring states and accelerating the deployment of standby units, to mitigate rolling outages and stabilize supply for critical sectors.
The outages include several key thermal units that have been offline for weeks, exacerbating the supply shortfall. Hydroelectric plants have also been curtailed due to lower water levels, further tightening the grid.
Compounding the problem is a noticeable decline in coal availability, the primary fuel for many thermal stations. The shortage has limited the ability of remaining plants to ramp up production, creating a vicious cycle of demand and supply gaps.
Electricity authorities are reportedly exploring emergency measures, such as importing power from neighboring states and accelerating the deployment of standby units, to mitigate rolling outages and stabilize supply for critical sectors.