Kashmir’s hidden energy drain: Tackling vampire load to save power

Srinagar, Jan 13: Amidst prolonged power cuts and increasing demand during Kashmir’s freezing winters, a silent energy thief—known as "vampire load"—is adding to the Valley's woes. Vampire load refers to the power consumed by electrical appliances and devices even when they are turned off but remain plugged into a power source.

Vampire loads in Kashmir, with thin energy resources, remain a common contributor to the power crisis. Devices such as televisions, phone chargers, microwave ovens, and desktop computers quietly draw electricity while in standby mode.

For instance, a charging mobile continues sipping electricity even when detached from the phone, a television, and even music players when kept in standby mode use power as it can switch on speedily. Such wastages increase the cost of home electricity consumption and further deteriorate the strength of the grid.

"As during winters, the electricity demand reaches over 1,900 MW, whereas it hardly meets the supply and demand gap. Reducing the vampire loads will somehow lessen the burden on efficiency also," said a senior official of Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited.

The financial cost of vampire loads is substantial for Kashmiri households. This hidden drain can add up to 100–150 units on an average annual electricity bill. For a family already struggling with high heating costs during winter, this unnecessary expense can be a burden.

The environmental impact is equally disturbing. Each lost unit of electricity makes one more dependent on non-renewable sources of energy, which contributes to carbon emissions. In an ecologically sensitive region like Kashmir, where climate change is a serious threat, the stakes are particularly high.

Awareness and action are necessary to fight the vampire load. Unplugging appliances when not in use will save much energy, which is wasted otherwise. Moreover, smart power strips cut off the power supply automatically to the appliances in standby mode.