SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday reviewed the ongoing power sector reforms in Jammu and Kashmir and directed officials to accelerate modernisation efforts to ensure reliable, efficient and affordable electricity supply across the Union Territory.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Power Development Department (PDD), the Chief Minister assessed the overall performance of the sector, including revenue generation, implementation of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), reduction in Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, transmission projects and future reform plans.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary PDD Ashwini Kumar, ACS to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Managing Directors of Jammu and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporations, senior engineers and other officials.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that Jammu and Kashmir has made significant progress under RDSS, with projects worth more than Rs 5,700 crore currently under execution. Out of this, works worth nearly Rs 4,700 crore related to loss reduction have largely been awarded.
The meeting was informed that ongoing reforms, particularly in metering, are aimed at improving billing efficiency, reducing losses and providing consumers with greater transparency in energy consumption.
Officials also briefed the Chief Minister about the progress of loss reduction initiatives, including installation of aerial bunched (AB) cables, feeder segregation, augmentation of distribution transformers, underground cabling and strengthening of the distribution network. Several districts have recorded substantial progress, with many projects nearing completion.
Reviewing the financial position of the power sector, Omar Abdullah noted improvements in revenue collection. Officials said annual revenue realisation has increased over the years, while the gap between power purchase costs and revenue collection has reduced due to improved billing mechanisms and better recovery.
The meeting was informed that billing efficiency has improved from 56 per cent in 2021-22 to 77 per cent in 2025-26, while AT&C losses have witnessed a significant decline during the same period.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the impact of reduced hydropower generation during the current summer due to low water availability, which has increased dependence on power purchases from energy exchanges during peak demand periods. Officials briefed him on measures being taken to maintain supply despite seasonal challenges.
Emphasising the need to continue reforms beyond the ongoing RDSS programme, Omar Abdullah directed officials to ensure timely completion of sanctioned projects, closely monitor execution, address bottlenecks and strengthen accountability.
He also called for expanding AB cable coverage, upgrading the transmission network and adopting emerging technologies to improve reliability and reduce system losses.
Officials also briefed the Chief Minister about proposed investments, including expansion of AB cable networks, critical transmission projects, battery energy storage systems and rooftop solar initiatives aimed at strengthening grid stability and improving electricity availability in remote and border areas.
The meeting also reviewed electrification works in uncovered habitations, ongoing transmission projects, feeder-wise power curtailment plans, tariff proceedings for 2026-27 and further measures to modernise the power sector.
The Chief Minister said reliable and affordable electricity remains a key priority of the government and directed the department to focus on improving consumer satisfaction while building a financially sustainable and modern power system for Jammu and Kashmir.
