CHANDIGARH: In one of its biggest recruitment drive, state power utility Punjab State Power Corporation would hire 1,448 persons this year to meet requirement for expanding electrification related infrastructure and growing consumers base.

"We are going to recruit over 1,448 young and dynamic persons for our Corporation who are needed to cater to enlarging consumers' base and setting up of new infrastructure," a senior official of Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL) told today.

As per recruitment drive, PSPCL will be hiring regular staff in the field of Engineering, IT, Accounts, Revenue, HR among other segments. Maximum jobs have been offered against category of Assistant Engineers (290) and Junior Engineers (260), Accountant (100) and Clerks (500).

Currently, PSPCL, which looks after generation and distribution, has manpower of 55,000 with average age of 50 and over 3,000 are attaining superannuation every year.

"The number of substations has gone up considerably from 500 in 2001 to 800 at present. Similarly, consumers' base has touched mark of 70 lakh," he said, while emphasising that more people were required to run PSPCL effectively and efficiently.

Punjab government last year carved out PSPCL and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSPCL) out of Punjab State Electricity Board as part of its unbundling exercise mandated by Central Electricity Act.

Over 19 per cent of total revenue of PSPCL is to be spent on employees this year, as per tariff order 2011-12. Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) had allowed Rs 2,916 crore as employee cost while determining the tariff order of 2011-12 despite PSPCL's projection of Rs 3,607 crore.