CHANDIGARH: The increasing gap between demand and supply has forced the PSEB  to impose two compulsory weekly offs on induction furnaces and independent rolling mills, besides increasing the peak-load restrictions on industry from three to seven hours, with effect from July 20.

It has also been decided to impose a compulsory 36-hour off on other industry. PSEB is supplying over 1506 lakh units daily in the state but still there is daily shortage of over 236 lakh units. The peak load restriction is to the tune of 1058 MW. The shortage is to increase further when the weather goes dry and demand from agriculture sector would increase.

PSEB is today over drawing daily 40 to 50 lakh units daily even when it has already exhausted the power purchase allowed by the regulatory commission for the year 2008-09.