Kashmir Power Demand Surges to 6727 MU Amid Winter Preparations

Electricity demand in the Kashmir Valley has surged significantly, with projections indicating consumption will rise to 6727 million units (MU) in the 2025-26 financial year. This marks a substantial increase from 5868.70 MU in 2024-25, driven by the growing usage of electrical gadgets and machinery across the region. The Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has submitted these figures to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) as part of its ongoing assessments of supply and demand.

To manage the expected winter load, KPDCL reported that the peak demand met reached 1980 megawatts (MW). In preparation, the Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited procured an additional 393 MW under the SHAKTI policy and secured 600 MW from the Ministry of Power. Furthermore, an allocation of 1094 MW was authorized to counter the anticipated shortfall stemming from reduced hydroelectric generation.

During the months from October 2024 to March 2025, the government has committed to avoiding unscheduled power cuts in the Valley. Instead, feeder-wise curtailment schedules will be utilized, ensuring that areas with less than 15 percent losses experience zero-hour cuts, while those with losses between 15-40 percent will face two-hour cuts, and feeders exceeding 40 percent losses will undergo four-hour cuts. The administration has assured that any necessary power cuts will follow a seasonal pattern to minimize disruption.

KPDCL officials attribute unscheduled outages primarily to system constraints and unmetered consumption. To address these issues, the Power Development Department is enhancing infrastructure through the UT CAPEX and centrally sponsored schemes while also expanding the rollout of smart meters to improve billing accuracy and reduce outages.

Official data indicates that unrestricted peak demand was 2300 MW in 2022-23, increased to 2400 MW in 2023-24, and returned to 2300 MW for 2024-25. The peak demand met improved from 1893 MW to 1970 MW during this time, demonstrating enhanced supply management.

Throughout the year, energy consumption displayed notable fluctuations, with April 2025 registering a 2.19 percent increase, while May experienced a 5.52 percent decline. In contrast, August saw a 3.48 percent rise. Last winter, the Jammu and Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited supplied a peak load of 1970 MW in Kashmir, maintaining the capacity to deliver up to 2200 MW without system constraints.

Despite these improvements, concerns are growing regarding the region’s Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, which currently stand at an alarming 47 percent, among the highest in India. This situation raises questions about KPDCL’s operational efficiency, especially as the corporation has petitioned the JERC for approval of a 20 percent surcharge on electricity consumed during peak hours. This proposal has sparked public backlash.

The surcharge, outlined in the tariff petition for 2025-26, would apply during critical hours—between 6 am and 9 am and 5 pm and 10 pm—when households rely heavily on electricity for heating, lighting, and cooking in winter. KPDCL argues that the surcharge is intended to “rationalize power demand” and alleviate stress on the distribution network. Nonetheless, officials contend that this proposal highlights more profound structural problems within the corporation.

Despite assurances that no tariff hikes are being sought, the proposed surcharge is perceived as a covert increase in costs. The issue has taken on a political dimension, with the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah facing scrutiny over its pre-election promise to provide 200 units of free electricity to households. Critics argue that the introduction of this surcharge contradicts that commitment.

As the winter months approach, residents are left grappling with the implications of rising electricity demands and the potential financial burden that may accompany the proposed surcharge. The KPDCL’s actions and the government’s response will be closely monitored as the situation unfolds.