FICO Demands Quality Power Supply from PSPCL Chief Engineer

Ludhiana, July 16, 2025: A delegation of the Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organization (FICO), led by President S. Gurmeet Singh Kular, met Er. Jagdev Singh Hans, Chief Engineer – Central Zone, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), at the FICO Secretariat, Jaimal Road, Janta Nagar, Ludhiana, and strongly demanded the provision of quality power supply for the industry.
Raising serious concerns over the increasing frequency of unscheduled power breakdowns, especially in industrial areas and focal points, the delegation pointed out that such breakdowns are causing heavy production losses due to material damage. They suggested that preventive maintenance should be restricted to Sundays, when most industrial units remain closed. Further, they demanded that prior intimation of at least two days be given before any planned power shutdown.
Regarding the quality of power, the delegation emphasized that power is a critical raw material for industries, and its quality directly affects production efficiency. They highlighted that in recent weeks, voltage fluctuations have severely impacted industrial operations, causing damage to sensitive equipment. FICO demanded strict measures to ensure consistent and high-quality power supply.
FICO also called for the restoration of the General Over (G.O.) Switch system for industrial units in Ludhiana. They explained that the G.O. Switch, installed between the transformer and the industrial unit, acts as a safeguard by tripping in case of a fatal error, thus protecting both the unit’s equipment and the transformer, while also preventing tripping in neighboring units.
The delegation further urged PSPCL to introduce a Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS) for industrial consumers, including small power, medium supply, and large supply connection holders. They noted that no such scheme has been announced for the industry in the last 25 years and suggested that this step would benefit both the industry and PSPCL.
Responding to the delegation, Chief Engineer Er. Jagdev Singh Hans assured that immediate action would be taken to address the power breakdown issues.
Prominent among those present were Dinesh Singh Bhogal, Secretary, FICO; Satnam Singh Makkar, Propaganda Secretary, FICO; Harpal Singh Bhamber, Head, Bicycle Division; Gurmukh Singh Rupal, Head, Sewing Machine Division; and Barinder Bawa, Executive Member, FICO.