DW BUREAU / PATIALA PSEB Engineers Association has made a number of suggestions on reducing the cost of power, structural reforms, strengthening of the distribution system, and human resource management to the PSPCL management to improve its working. Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, General Secretary, said that the Association has written a nine-page letter to the CMD listing 42 suggestions. The foremost suggestion relates to the review of long-term power purchase agreements with private generators as the per-unit cost is increasing every year. The PSPCL has already surrendered power worth Rs 4000 crore. The faulty PPAs are being exploited by the generators in court cases and these need an immediate cancelation. Power should be procured as per actual requirements on competitive market rate. The PSPCL has not been able to import more power at the time of shortage when there is maximum demand during paddy season due to 400 KV system constraints. There is an urgent need to install 400/220 KV interconnected transformers and the PSPCL and the PSTCL must coordinate to expedite the works. There is a need for the merger of PSPCL and PSTCL for better coordination and to avoid delay in the up-gradation of 220KV and 66KV transmission systems. The PSPCL can save Rs 600 per ton on the coal cost if a captive coal mine at Pachwara is made operational. Urgent personal attention is required to get the court case settled. There is an urgent need to bring down the tariff rates during night hours to utilise the maximum surplus power available. Power theft is increasing in police and district administration offices as they install an excess number of air conditioners against their entitlement and indulge in power theft through kundi connections. There is a need to restructure the distribution and P&M organisations and creation of need-based subdivisions, divisions, and circles, strengthening of enforcement by way of regular staff training, interaction with meter manufacturing companies, to detect power theft by the domestic consumers and industrial consumers. (editor@dailyworld.in)