FICO Strongly Opposes PSPCL Power Restrictions on Industry

Ludhiana, September 12, 2026: The Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organization (FICO) has strongly opposed the latest power restriction order issued by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), directing industries operating on Category-II and Category-III feeders to severely restrict their power demand from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. As per the PSPCL notice, due to the non-operation of generating units at TSPL and Nabha Power Plant, approximately 1,400 MW of power generation has been reduced. Industries on Category-II feeders have been allowed only 10% load, while industries on Category-III feeders have been allowed only 2% load during the restricted hours.
Moreover, Today there is no power in focal point since 3 PM. 
K.K. Seth, Chairman, FICO, strongly condemned the decision and said that industry cannot be expected to bear the burden of failures in power generation. He demanded that the Chairman, PSPCL, should resign immediately if the Corporation is unable to ensure reliable electricity supply to the industrial sector. He said that imposing such severe restrictions on industry will result in massive production losses, disruption of manufacturing operations, delayed deliveries and financial losses for thousands of industrial units. The decision will also adversely affect workers and the entire industrial supply chain.
Gurmeet Singh Kular, President, FICO, said that the Punjab Government appears to be focusing primarily on its vote-bank politics, providing free electricity to farmers and residential consumers, while the industrial sector is being completely neglected. He said, “Industry is the backbone of Punjab’s economy. It generates substantial revenue for the State, creates employment opportunities and contributes significantly to the overall economic development of Punjab. It is unfair to continuously put the burden of power shortages on industry.”
Kular demanded that the Punjab Government and PSPCL immediately review the decision and ensure uninterrupted and reliable power supply to industries. He said that industrial units cannot survive with repeated power restrictions, particularly during critical production and working hours. He made it clear that if 24×7 power supply is not ensured to the industrial sector from Monday onwards, industrialists will launch a strong and united agitation against PSPCL.
FICO further demanded that the Government should take immediate steps to restore the available generation capacity and ensure proper planning of power supply so that the industrial sector does not suffer due to shortcomings in power generation.