Rajpura Thermal Plant Unit Restarts to Ease Punjab's Power Crisis as Demand Crosses 16,000 MW
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Punjab's power sector received much-needed relief on Sunday morning as a closed 700-megawatt unit of the private Rajpura thermal plant successfully resumed operations and started generation. The restart comes at a crucial time when the state has been grappling with skyrocketing electricity demands that have strained utility grids. Powercom officials reported that while one 660-megawatt unit at the Talwandi Sabo thermal plant remains temporarily out of service, expectations are high for it to return online by Sunday evening, further stabilizing the grid. Additionally, afternoon rainfall across various cities in the state is anticipated to temper energy consumption, providing a comfortable cushion for Powercom's distribution network.
Soaring Power Demand and Central Pool Dependence
As of Sunday afternoon, Punjab's maximum power demand surged to a staggering 16,601 megawatts, significantly outpacing previous years. To bridge the widening deficit, Powercom generated 5,032 megawatts from all state sources while heavily relying on the central pool to draw 11,509 megawatts of electricity. Power generation figures across state facilities included 482 megawatts from four units of the Ropar Thermal Plant, 800 megawatts from four units of the Lehra Mohabbat Plant, and 496 megawatts from two units of Goindwal Sahib. Operationalizing both units of the Rajpura plant yielded an additional 1,328 megawatts, while Talwandi Sabo contributed 1,166 megawatts despite one of its units remaining shut.
Unprecedented Surge in Energy Consumption Compared to Previous Years
A comparative analysis of electricity demand highlights a dramatic upward trajectory in the state's power consumption. The peak demand of 16,601 megawatts recorded on September 13, 2026, marks a massive surge of more than 2,200 megawatts compared to the same date in previous years. For perspective, power demand on September 13 stood at 13,835 megawatts in 2024 and 13,208 megawatts in 2025. This record-breaking demand underscores the expanding infrastructural challenges faced by utilities, making the resumption of thermal generation units vital for preventing widespread blackouts across the region.
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