Winter Woes: New Power Schedule for Kashmir to be out next month
The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) said on Monday that a new power curtailment schedule will be out next month and the consumers might have to face longer cuts, if the electricity is not used judiciously.
Chief Engineer, KPDCL, Engineer Javed Yousuf Dar said that there has been no new power schedule, but would likely be issued after November 10 onwards.
He, however, said that some mandatory works ahead of the winters have been started like Upgradation of transmission lines, branch cuttings and other line works.
“These works would be completed before November 15 and the new power schedule will be announced accordingly,” he said, as per news agency KNO.
Kashmir has been facing power cuts for several days due to increase in power demand with the usage of electric gadgets, as the temperature continues to fall ahead of the winter season.
A PDD official said there would be further reduction in power supply from the second week of next month.
“There will be around 4-hour power curtailment in metered areas and over 6-hours in non-metered areas. But it also depends on the increase in power demand. If people use electricity judiciously then there will be less power cuts. If people don’t cooperate and use electricity beyond their registered load, they have to face the long power cuts,” the official said.
“From December, there will be a new power curtailment schedule as there will be further increase in demand for electricity,” the official said.
As per rules, metered areas are bound to get 24-hour power supply.
The official said there is a need for a power curtailment schedule in view of an increase in power demand.
Asked whether there will be improvement in power supply than last year, he replied, “It all depends upon people. If they use electricity judiciously, then there will be improvement in power supply. We have to optimize things from the availability of electricity.”
The PDD has 1300 MWs of electricity available. However, during winters, the demand reaches over 2000 MWs.
The Centre has been allotting additional MWs of power to Jammu and Kashmir in view of higher demand in winters. But there has been less improvement in the Union Territory as over the years the PDD has failed to augment the existing infrastructure to receive additional electricity from the central grids.
“Additional allocation of power will end the power crisis only when required infrastructure is in place. How will we handle additional power when there is less infrastructure available?” the official added.
