Chandigarh: Punjab has achieved great success in the power sector. Punjab has got a grade ‘A’ in the national ranking. Earlier, Punjab was behind in the ranking, but now it has improved. Powercom has improved its performance through many points. Powercom has got the seventh rank overall (category-wise) in the national ranking for the year 2023-24. Among the states with public sector companies, Punjab is currently at the third position in the country, while Kerala and Haryana are at the top.
The Union Ministry of Power has released the 13th Integrated Rating Report in which Punjab has got ‘A’ grade in the power sector, while earlier it had got ‘B’ grade. Powercom has improved its position. Punjab has got 77 points overall, while last time it had 61.6 points. Haryana and Gujarat have the grade ‘A+’. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had given the target of power reforms to Powercom last year.
Powercom CMD Baldev Singh Sran, who has now retired, had taken big steps for power reforms. If we look at the performance of various points, Powercom has performed well in providing power supply in the year 2023-24, in return for which Powercom has got ‘A’ grade. The basis of national ranking is also made on consumer services.
The Union Power Ministry is satisfied that Powercom has been financially strong. During the year 2023-24, Powercom has earned a profit of about Rs 800 crore and has reduced financial and technical losses. The Punjab government has also been giving subsidy amount to Powercom on time last year. There has also been improvement in the collection of electricity bills from consumers.