Chandigarh, June 24: Punjab government today decided to implement power sector reforms on the lines of Central Electricity Act, 2003, enacted recently by Parliament. The reforms would also incorporate improvements proposed in the Punjab Electricity Bill, 2003, which was introduced in the assembly in the last budget session.

The decision was taken by the council of ministers in its meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, an official spokesman said.

Power sector reforms were aimed at making available quality power at the right price and involved unbundling and restructuring of Punjab State Electricity Board, allowing open access in a phased and carefully calibrated manner and infuse competition with a view to cutting costs and improving the quality, the Chief Minister was quoted as saying. Regarding meeting the transition costs of the power sector reforms, the cabinet desired that the costs and other modalities might be worked out in greater detail and a separate procedure in this behalf should be placed before it.

Bureau Report