JK faces over 15% gap in power requirement, availability

Riyaz Bhat

Srinagar, Mar 07 : Jammu and Kashmir facing an excessive gap of more than 15 percent between the power requirement and actual power available for its consumers.

According to the official documents available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), “The gap between power requirement and actual power available is quite high at about 14-16 percent approximately in J&K.”

The officials said that the issue primarily occurs due to drop in generation of hydel power plants during winters as a result of reduction in flow of water in the snow fed rivers of J&K.

“In order to mitigate the shortfall in power requirement during the winter months, bilateral arrangements are executed with other states which have surplus power during winters and need power from J&K during summers,” reads the documents.

The government in a report has said that besides, unallocated power is also obtained from the Ministry of Power from the quota of power allocated to NE and Western States.

“Electric power reaches the consumer through the transmission and distribution network where there are T&D losses as well as commercial losses. Such losses in J&K are substantial and efforts are being made to reduce these by way of system improvement and conducting enforcement drives against power theft,” it reads.

According to the documents, the revenue collection efficiency and billing efficiency has improved to 81 percent ending November 2024.

“This has resulted in a reduction of AT&C losses to 18.82 percent— indicating reduction in power loss and enhancing the efficiency of the electricity supply system,” officials said.

It also said that the consumer landscape in J&K is predominantly residential, comprising 84 percent of the consumer base, followed by commercial users at 13 percent.

“The remainder includes agricultural, industrial, and governmental sectors, each contributing to the diverse energy consumption patterns and infrastructure needs across the region,” it reads—(KNO)