PATIALA – The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is standing firm on its ambitious goal to slash distribution losses to 10% by FY 2026-27, despite fierce opposition from the PSEB Engineers Association (PSEBEA), which labeled the target "technically unfeasible."

The Dispute: Ambition vs. Reality

The Engineers Association argues that the sudden 2.95% reduction in a single year is an unprecedented move designed to "artificially suppress" revenue requirements by over ₹5,200 crore. They warn this could lead to long-term financial instability for the utility.

PSPCL’s Justification

In its response to the state regulator (PSERC), PSPCL cited a massive infrastructure overhaul aimed for completion by March 2027:

• Smart Metering: Statewide rollout under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
• Unified Billing: A new system to streamline revenue collection and energy accounting.
• Loss Reduction: Intensive recovery drives against major defaulters and upgrades to 11 kV and 66 kV systems.

While engineers fear these "efficiency gains" are a gamble, PSPCL maintains that the concentrated nature of these projects makes the one-time sharp reduction achievable. The regulator's final "prudence check" will now determine if these targets hold or if they risk future financial shocks for consumers.