RUPNAGAR : Hot and sultry weather across the region pushed power demand in Punjab to a new peak of 13,700 megawatt (MW) on Monday with a jump of more than 1,200 MW from last year’s maximum power demand of 12,542 MW recorded on July 9, 2018.

On Monday, Punjab’s own generation was 6,290 MW and it was drawing 6,352 MW from the national grid as per its share in central sector units and from other sources as per power purchase agreements.

A senior Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) official, not wishing to be named, said this was the maximum demand the utility could supply.

On Monday, all four units each at the Rupnagar thermal plant and the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plants were running at full capacity. In the private sector too, all seven units of three thermal plants ran to full capacity.

The state is also drawing its full share of power from the grid. The total thermal power being generated is about 3,662 MW, with 450 MW of solar power being generated during the day. The coal stock at Rupnagar and Lehra Mohabbat thermal plants is sufficient for 38 days and 27 days, respectively.