The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has revised its power cut protocol, limiting planned outages to a maximum of four hours per day due to public dissatisfaction amidst a severe heatwave. This change, announced on April 23, comes after widespread complaints about outages lasting up to ten hours in cities such as Patiala, Ludhiana, and Amritsar. The opposition, particularly from the Punjab Congress and BJP, has criticized the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, accusing it of mismanagement and questioning the timing of maintenance work. In defense, AAP leaders claim the outages are necessary for strengthening electricity infrastructure ahead of the peak paddy season, when demand is expected to exceed 17,000 MW. To ensure compliance and improve efficiency, PSPCL has mandated stricter supervision of maintenance work and introduced tighter reporting norms. Senior officials will now oversee all shutdown-related activities, and completion reports must be submitted promptly to ensure accountability.