Real-time exchanges and banking arrangements planned to plug 32% shortfall
LEH: As winter grips the northern Himalayas, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are bracing for a power deficit of nearly 32 percent during the ongoing month’s peak demand period, official data has revealed.
According to figures released by the power authorities, the combined peak demand for both Union Territories has been projected at 3,653 Megawatts (MW), while the available supply stands at 2,490 MW, leaving a shortfall of 1,163 MW. The anticipated deficit of 31.8 percent is expected to challenge the already strained energy infrastructure in the region.
Officials from the State Load Dispatch Centres (SLDCs) of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir have, however, assured that the deficit will be managed through real-time energy exchanges and inter-state banking arrangements, mitigating the impact on domestic and commercial consumers.
The latest assessment follows a sharp decline in hydropower generation, which remains the primary energy source for the Himalayan belt. Officials disclosed that local power generation has plunged by nearly 70 percent, translating to a loss of around 800 to 900 MW from Jammu and Kashmir’s own plants.
“Currently, generation from local power stations is fluctuating between 330 MW and 400 MW,” an official said, attributing the fall to reduced water discharge during the dry winter months. From the Baglihar hydel complex, generation has dipped to 250–380 MW, while units at Kishenpur and New Wanpoh are producing barely one MW each. Kashmir-based power plants together contribute only 71 MW to the grid, the official added.
The department has forecast a power load of 1,750 MW for early next week, with forced curtailments already being implemented in several areas to manage supply.
Experts point out that seasonal fluctuations in hydropower remain a persistent challenge for Jammu and Kashmir, which relies heavily on water-dependent generation. The winter shortfall, they say, underscores the urgent need to diversify energy sources and strengthen regional transmission links to maintain grid stability through the cold months.
