SRINAGAR: With the rising electricity demand following the onset of winter, the Power Development Department (PDD) has sought additional power to address issues of distress and unscheduled cuts across the Valley.
Quoting a senior official, local news agency KNO reported that the demand for electricity has increased significantly over the past two weeks, necessitating additional power to meet the requirements.
“We have requested more power from the authorities and are hopeful of receiving it. Let’s see what is approved,” the official said.
The official said that the unrestricted power demand, including the ongoing curtailment schedule, has reached 2,600–2,700 megawatts, while the current availability stands at only 1,450 MW.
Regarding the new curtailment schedule, the official explained that the department is obligated to ensure uninterrupted power supply to 250 essential feeders, which serve hospitals and other critical services.
“In Kashmir, over 50% of feeders supply power to flat-rated areas, where curtailment is approximately eight hours daily. For the remaining feeders, curtailment schedules are directly linked to Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses,” the official added.
On local power generation, the official highlighted a further decline, stating, “Power generation from local plants in Kashmir has dropped from 60 MW to just 40 MW.”
