‎J&K faces 164-MW peak power shortfall

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‎Srinagar, Sept 24 : Jammu and Kashmir faced a 164-MW gap between peak power demand and available supply during the current financial year up to July 2026, with peak demand reaching 3,063 MW against availability of 2,899 MW, the government has informed the Legislative Assembly.
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‎The figures were disclosed by the Power Development Department in response to a question by MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma regarding the status of power supply in Jammu and Kashmir.
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‎According to the government, the deficit in peak availability was managed through short-term power arrangements.
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‎The department said the peak demand in the Union Territory was met on May 27, 2026, at 7 am. In the Jammu region, peak demand of 1,623 MW was met on July 16 at 6 pm, while the Kashmir region recorded a peak demand of 1,845 MW on May 27 at 7 am.
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‎The government said it was implementing a Load Curtailment Programme based on feeder-level losses. Feeders with losses of less than 15 per cent face no curtailment, while those with losses between 15 and 40 per cent face three hours of curtailment and feeders with losses above 40 per cent face six hours of curtailment.
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‎The department said areas experiencing frequent interruptions, low voltage or inadequate power supply were being identified and monitored by field officers on the basis of feeder performance, loading conditions, consumer complaints and field reports.
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‎The situation, it said, was particularly monitored during periods of peak summer and winter demand and in remote and hilly areas where difficult terrain and weather conditions can affect supply reliability.
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‎To strengthen the distribution network, the government said works under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) were being implemented. These include replacement of old and worn-out conductors with AB cables, augmentation of undersized conductors and replacement or augmentation of overloaded and aged distribution transformers.
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‎The government has also undertaken measures to augment transmission and distribution capacity across J&K, with RDSS and UT Capex works targeted for completion by March 2028.
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‎These measures include augmentation of existing receiving stations and distribution transformers, installation of additional distribution transformers, strengthening of HT/LT networks, construction of new receiving stations and replacement or upgradation of overloaded and weak electrical infrastructure.
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‎The department said Grid Substation strengthening, augmentation and new construction would be undertaken in phases based on load growth and technical feasibility.
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‎The government also provided details of transmission and distribution works undertaken during the last three years. In 2025-26, a total of 1,795 works were sanctioned, including 947 ongoing and 848 new works, of which 751 had been completed, according to the reply.
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‎In the current financial year 2026-27, 1,831 works have been sanctioned, comprising 1,138 ongoing and 693 new works, while 432 works have been completed so far.(KNS)