Power Deficit

Jammu and Kashmir’s power sector today stands as a stark reminder of chronic underinvestment, delayed reforms, and an overreliance on external support. With over 95 percent of its electricity imported and local generation contributing a meagre 4.6 percent, the Union Territory finds itself trapped in a cycle of dependency that has serious economic and social consequences.

The scale of the problem is evident in the numbers. J&K faces an overall power deficit of nearly 800 MW, even as peak-hour imports touch 2,900–3,100 MW. During non-peak hours, imports still range between 2,400–2,800 MW, underscoring how deeply the region depends on power sourced from outside. Against a total availability of about 3,100–3,200 MW, demand continues to outstrip supply—particularly during winters, when heating needs surge.

What makes this dependence more troubling is the UT’s limited local generation capacity. Despite vast hydropower potential, current generation from local plants averages only 100–150 MW. This gap between potential and reality reflects years of stalled projects, inadequate infrastructure, and policy inertia. The result is a system that remains vulnerable to seasonal stress and external supply constraints.

The demand pattern further highlights the imbalance. The Kashmir region requires around 2,400–2,500 MW, while Jammu division needs 1,400–1,500 MW. With such high demand, even minor disruptions or shortfalls quickly translate into longer power cuts, particularly in far-flung and rural areas. Official projections warning of a 34 percent power deficit during December only reinforce public anxieties about energy security.

Compounding the supply-side issues are distribution losses and inefficiencies. Power officials have acknowledged that pilferage, flat-rate billing, and outdated infrastructure account for significant losses, especially in areas yet to be covered by smart metering. The promise that smart meters could drastically reduce losses is encouraging, but it also exposes how long systemic reforms have been delayed.

The power deficit in J&K is not merely a technical issue; it is a development challenge. Reliable electricity underpins industry, healthcare, education, and overall quality of life. Continued dependence on imported power drains financial resources and limits the UT’s economic autonomy.

What J&K urgently needs is a multi-pronged strategy: accelerated development of local hydropower projects, modernisation of transmission and distribution infrastructure, universal smart metering, and strict curbs on power theft. Without decisive action, the region will continue to lurch from one winter crisis to another—importing power at high cost while its own potential remains largely untapped.

Energy security is not a luxury; it is a prerequisite for stability and growth. For Jammu and Kashmir, reducing the power deficit must move from rhetoric to resolute action.