SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir’s electricity supply has seen a significant improvement as the region has received an additional 300 MW of power from central electricity generation companies (Gencos), raising the total available supply to 1930 MW. Additions were wheeling into the supply set up on the intervention of Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, top officers in the distribution set up said.
According to a senior official from the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL), the local generation has also increased, now reaching 250 MW, which has helped mitigate the ongoing shortfalls. “The local generation has improved, and with the additional 300 MW supply, we are now able to serve up to 1925 MW in Kashmir, which is the highest load served this year,” the official stated. This boost in allocation has significantly reduced the gap between demand and supply, ensuring better adherence to scheduled power cuts.
The KPDCL worked tirelessly to restore power across the region, with all 1287 feeders now functional. Power supply to areas that were previously cut off due to heavy snowfall, including Damhal, Brenwar, Yousmarg, and Kangan, has now been restored. Even popular tourist destinations, including Pahalgam, were powered up by the same evening. The efforts come as a part of the government’s commitment to provide timely electricity during the winter months, especially in high-demand areas.
While the power situation has improved, officials acknowledge that uninterrupted electricity remains a challenge. High power losses and incomplete metering continue to hinder the region’s energy efficiency. “Uninterrupted power cannot be provided until 100 percent metering is achieved,” the KPDCL official added. However, the increased supply allocation will help KPDCL adhere to its curtailment schedule, with metered areas facing 4.5 hours of daily outages, non-metered areas experiencing 6 hours, and rural areas enduring up to 8 hours of cuts.
