Mohali, April 23: To mitigate the impact of rising temperatures on residents, PSPCL has overhauled its maintenance protocols, capping daily power shutdowns at four hours. The utility’s management noted that previous plans for six-to-eight-hour outages were no longer tenable given the current climate conditions and the resulting public dissatisfaction.
The new administrative orders, which have been circulated to all zonal offices, emphasize that no new project or repair work should exceed the four-hour limit. To facilitate this shortened timeframe, the department has ordered that logistics and materials be positioned at sites 24 hours prior to the start of any work. Officials affirmed that this proactive approach is necessary to ensure that power is restored to the public as quickly as possible.
Supervision has also been tightened, with AE-rank officers held responsible for the timely completion of tasks. Furthermore, high-ranking officials will perform unannounced visits to check on the progress of field teams. The department asserted that these measures are designed to reduce the frequency of complaints and prevent the long-duration cuts that recently disrupted life in cities like Patiala and Ludhiana.
State authorities declared that the new instructions are effective immediately and will override any existing schedules that were set to run through April 26. By shifting to more frequent but shorter maintenance windows, PSPCL aims to balance essential infrastructure upgrades with the immediate cooling needs of the population. Residents have been encouraged to check the distribution portal for updated, shorter outage timings in their respective areas.
