{
  "id": 7087465,
  "title": "Punjab power crisis hits industry as Ludhiana, Jalandhar face 8-10 hour cuts. Here's what is happening in the state",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/punjab-power-crisis-hits-industry-as-ludhiana-jalandhar-face-8-10",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-13T09:35:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/india/punjab-power-crisis-hits-industry-as-ludhiana-jalandhar-face-8-10-hour-cuts-heres-what-is-happening-in-the-state-11789291155027.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The sudden power shortage in Punjab is causing significant disruptions to industries, particularly those located in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Mohali. The state's major industrial centers are experiencing 8 to 10-hour electricity cuts following the shutdown of one unit each at two private thermal power plants. This outage has reduced daily generation capacity by around 1,360 MW, impacting approximately 1,360 MW of electricity supply. High temperatures and deficient monsoon rainfall have contributed to elevated electricity demand in the state, which reached a peak of 16,519 MW on Saturday, compared to 12,489 MW during the same period last year. While domestic and agricultural consumers are also facing 3-4 hours of unscheduled power cuts, industries connected to 66-KV lines have been temporarily restricted to manage the sudden generation shortfall. The power crisis is attributed to the non-functional units at Nabha Power's Rajpura plant and the Talwandi Sabo Power Plant in Mansa, accounting for 1,360 MW of generation. PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director Basant Garg acknowledged that the crisis arose from these non-functional units and confirmed that industrial consumers were facing curtailment. PSPCL has attempted to compensate for the shortfall by purchasing electricity from the open market, but power availability is constrained due to a nationwide coal shortage. Industry representatives have called for an alternative arrangement, suggesting that industries should shut down for one full day every week instead of daily 10-12 hour power cuts, which they deem costly. The criticism has extended to the Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who has blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for the prolonged power cuts, comparing the situation to previous Akali Dal administrations. Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond attributed the current crisis to high demand, technical issues at private thermal plants, and the state's inability to receive its scheduled share of electricity from the central pool.",
  "summary": "Punjab's power crunch has hit industrial consumers, with 8-10 hour cuts reported in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Mohali after two private thermal plant units went offline, cutting around 1,360 MW of generation.",
  "key_points": [
    "Punjab faces 8-10 hour electricity cuts, impacting 1,360 MW capacity",
    "High temperatures and low monsoon rainfall increase electricity demand",
    "Industries call for weekly shutdowns instead of daily power cuts"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The power crisis in Punjab, caused by non-functional units at two private thermal plants, shifts costs and disruptions to industries, which now face long hours of electricity cuts and seek alternative arrangements.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindu BusinessLine",
        "title": "Coal supply to Punjab power plants remains adequate, state needs to improve offtake from mines, says ministry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/coal-supply-to-punjab-power-plants-remains-adequate-state-needs-to",
        "published": "2026-09-13T16:06:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}