Gruelling Summer Effect: J&K’s power demand soars to 3000 MW
Srinagar, June 15: Scorching temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir have driven electricity demand to unprecedented levels, exposing critical gaps in the power infrastructure and forcing authorities to resort to load shedding that leaves thousands without electricity during the intense summer heatwave.
The Power Development Department (PDD) is grappling with a significant supply-demand mismatch that has resulted in extended blackouts, particularly affecting non-metered areas where residents are bearing the brunt of the crisis.
In Kashmir, demand has soared to approximately 1,400 MW, but the region is only receiving 1,200 MW of supply, creating a dangerous 200 MW deficit that officials are managing through forced curtailments.
ìIn non-metered regions, approximately 200 MW power is being curtailed. That shortfall is felt most acutely in areas without metering," a senior power department official said.
The situation in Jammu presents an even starker picture. Summer consumption has exceeded 1,600 MW, with local generation capacity reaching 1,080 MW - higher than winter levels but still woefully inadequate. J&K is importing 1,682 MW from outside discoms, bringing the total supply to a staggering 2,783 MW as recorded at midnight on June 13.
ìWe are generating roughly 1,080 MW locally from state-owned Hydropower projects, of which Baglihar is a major contributor and bringing in 1,682 MW from outside, but we still reach a demand of 2,783 MW," the official explained.
The infrastructure strain has translated into daily hardships for residents across both regions, with many describing the current situation as the worst they have experienced in recent memory.
ìAir conditioners are now a necessity and frequent power disruptions are a major inconvenience,î said Aijaz Ahmad, a Srinagar resident, explaining how families are forced to repeatedly reset cooling appliances during frequent outages, disrupting sleep and daily routines.
Muhammad Maqbool from Downtown Srinagar expressed his growing disillusionment with the power situation, ìPower cuts are nothing new, but we have never seen such frequent unscheduled outages. Itís disrupting our lives.î
Similar grievances have emerged from Jammu, where residents are struggling to cope with the dual challenge of extreme heat and unreliable electricity supply.
Power sector experts have identified metering infrastructure as a key factor determining which areas face the most severe disruptions. The disparity between metered and unmetered zones has created a two-tier system where some residents endure significantly longer blackouts than others.
Unmetered zones are experiencing extended outages that sometimes stretch for several hours, while residents in areas with proper metering infrastructure face shorter, though still disruptive, power cuts.
Authorities acknowledge that without substantial improvements in local generation capacity and comprehensive infrastructure enhancements, residents in unmetered areas will likely continue facing extended outages throughout the summer months.
