Srinagar- As 2025 draws to a close, Jammu and Kashmir’s power sector stands exposed between ambitious promises and harsh realities. The year saw recurring power shortages, rising dependence on imported electricity, seasonal uncertainty in generation, and ageing infrastructure, all of which combined to deliver an unreliable supply and growing public frustration.
While the government pushed reforms such as smart metering, infrastructure upgrades and revenue improvement, developments through the year showed that the path towards energy self-reliance remains long and complex.
Heavy dependence on imported power
By the third week of December, Jammu and Kashmir was importing over 95 percent of its electricity, leaving the region highly vulnerable during peak winter demand. Officials said imports ranged between 2,900 and 3,100 MW during peak hours, and 2,400 to 2,800 MW during other periods.
The actual demand in Kashmir hovered around 2,400 to 2,500 MW, while Jammu’s demand ranged between 1,400 and 1,500 MW. Against an availability of about 3,100 to 3,200 MW, the region faced an overall deficit of nearly 800 MW.
Hydro collapse, coal and solar dominance
In February, officials revealed that Jammu and Kashmir was relying on 85 to 90 percent coal and solar power procured from other states, as local hydropower generation dropped by nearly 90 percent during winter.
With minimal local generation, authorities acknowledged that the region was effectively without its own power base for several months, intensifying dependence on external sources.
Power procurement from markets
During the lean season in August, Jammu and Kashmir procured nearly 40 to 50 percent of its electricity from power markets. Official documents showed that winter non availability of internal generation forced reliance on interstate power networks, further increasing costs.
Grim deficit projections
Looking ahead, official projections paint a worrying picture. Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, may face energy deficits ranging from 4,293 MW to nearly 10,000 MW over the next decade.
Studies suggest that by 2034–35, contracted capacity will fail to meet demand, particularly during winter months, with unserved energy estimated at around 8,730 million units.
Peak-hour surcharge proposal
Amid rising costs, the power department proposed a 20 percent surcharge during peak morning and evening hours, excluding agriculture consumers. The proposal, aimed at managing peak demand during harsh winters, awaits regulatory approval and has sparked concern among domestic consumers.
Rising future demand
Official estimates indicate that Jammu and Kashmir will require an additional 4,625 MW beyond planned capacities over the next nine years. Power demand is projected to grow by nearly 50 percent by 2034–35, with an annual increase of around six percent.
Authorities have warned that without timely capacity expansion, forced load shedding could rise to nearly 29 percent of annual energy by 2034–35.
Persistent grid and voltage issues
Throughout 2025, the region struggled with persistent low voltage problems, especially in the Kashmir Valley. Despite repeated discussions at regional power forums, the issue remained unresolved.
The lack of capacitor banks to manage reactive power further worsened voltage quality, leading to higher system losses and penalties.
Winter shortages and curtailments
In December, Jammu and Kashmir faced a projected power deficit of over 34 percent, with availability at 2,460 MW against a requirement of 3,737 MW. Earlier in the month, Kashmir alone faced a shortfall of nearly 500 MW, triggering extended outages.
The government admitted to imposing four-hour curtailments in high-loss areas, while attributing unscheduled outages largely to unauthorised power use in flat-rate zones.
High losses, improved revenue
Despite persistent challenges, the power department reported financial gains. Aggregate technical and commercial losses stood above 41 percent, with Kashmir DISCOM continuing to perform worse than Jammu.
At the same time, revenue generation increased by nearly 250 percent over five years, with power tariffs contributing a growing share of non-tax revenue. Officials credited smart meters, billing improvements and enforcement drives for the turnaround.
A long road ahead
While 2025 saw incremental reforms and revenue gains, it also exposed deep structural weaknesses in Jammu and Kashmir’s power sector. High import dependence, weak winter generation, grid limitations and rising demand continue to threaten supply reliability.
The promise of unrestricted power remains distant, underscoring that energy security in the region will require sustained investment, realistic planning and difficult policy choices in the years ahead. (KNO)
