34 Per Cent Power Deficit Looms Over Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh Amid Cold Wave | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Amid persistent cold temperatures, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is likely to witness a power deficit of more than 34 percent in the month of December.

The officials said that in the anticipated power supply position in the northern region for December-2025, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is likely to have a power shortage of 34.2 percent.

The official figures reveal that there is an availability of just 2460 Megawatts (MWs) against a requirement of 3737 MWs in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It also reveals that there is a shortage of 1277 MWs.

Another official document reads, “With the increase in winter, demand of JK control area is on a higher side and it is hovering around 3200MW.”

It also said that the heating load is also picking up during early morning and night hours. “The demand may further increase in the coming days.”

“It has been observed that the 400kV as well as 220kV Bus voltages at various stations in Kashmir valley are remaining critically low also reaching 347kV and 178kV—well below the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC) band i.e. 380kV and 198kV respectively due to low hydro generation and heavy MVAR drawl from the ISTS nodes,” it reads.

Pertinently, in November authorities have projected that Jammu and Kashmir will likely have an extra power demand by 49.42 percent by the year 2034-35.

The official had clarified that the peak demand will be more than the average growth saying that the region may likely witness an increase in power demand by 6 percent each year from 2025-26 to 2034-2035.

Stating the year wise growth rate in power demand, authorities have said that in the year Jammu and Kashmir will likely have a five percent extra demand in the year 2025-26 followed by four percent in the year 2026-27, four percent in 2027-28, three percent in 2028-29. (KNO)