Punjab to renegotiate Power Purchase Agreements

Under attack from all sides over the costly electricity in the State besides the demand of annulling the “anti-government” power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private players, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday announced that the State Government would “renegotiate” the power agreements which the erstwhile Akali-BJP Government had signed to “defraud the State and its people”.

The Chief Minister also warned the private players against messing with Punjab’s finances. Given the shortfall in production by the State-owned power plants at Lehra Mohabbat and Ropar, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would work around the existing arrangements with the private players to make the power rates more affordable while ensuring that the peak demand of 13,000 mega watt is effectively met.