Kashmir’s Winter Power Crisis: 300 MW Shortfall, Feeder-Wise Cuts Announced
By: Javid Amin | 18 October 2025
Srinagar: Kashmir is entering the winter season with a reported electricity shortfall of nearly 300 megawatts (MW), as rising demand collides with limited power availability and falling seasonal hydropower output. The challenge has now moved beyond a warning: the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has implemented a revised curtailment schedule from October 17, with daily outages ranging from 30 minutes in lower-loss areas to as much as eight hours in feeders recording very high Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses.
The revised schedule comes as peak-hour demand in the Valley is estimated at 1,300–1,350 MW, while available power fluctuates between 1,000 and 1,150 MW. The resulting gap of around 300 MW raises concerns about the Valley’s preparedness for the colder months, when electricity consumption typically rises as households increasingly depend on electric heating.
According to reports published by Kashmir Life and Kashmir News Observer, the Power Development Department (PDD) is managing the fluctuating supply position through grid curtailment. Meanwhile, Kashmir Images has reported that the revised KPDCL schedule introduces different outage durations according to feeder-level losses and supply categories.
Kashmir’s New Power Curtailment Schedule: Who Faces How Many Hours of Cuts?
The revised plan, effective from October 17, links scheduled curtailment to the AT&C losses recorded on individual feeders. The duration of power cuts therefore varies between localities rather than following one uniform timetable across the Valley.
| Feeder AT&C losses | Reported daily curtailment |
|---|---|
| Up to 15% | 30 minutes |
| Above 15% to 40.5% | 3 hours |
| Above 40.5% to 65% | 6 hours |
| Above 65% | 8 hours |
The figures are based on the revised schedule reported by Kashmir Images. Consumers should consult the official feeder-wise timetable for the exact outage windows applicable to their locality.
The new schedule differs from the earlier framework reported in September, under which feeders with losses below 15% faced no scheduled curtailment, those recording 15–40% losses faced three hours of cuts, and feeders above 40% faced six hours. The latest plan introduces a half-hour curtailment tier for low-loss feeders and an eight-hour tier for feeders recording losses above 65%.
This distinction matters because the burden of scheduled outages is no longer adequately described by a simple three-tier formula. Under the revised plan, the feeder’s loss category and supply classification determine the scheduled duration.
Srinagar and Rural Kashmir: Why Outages May Differ
The impact of the revised curtailment programme is expected to vary considerably across the Valley.
In Srinagar, feeders under Sub-Transmission Divisions I and II have reportedly been assigned between 30 minutes and three hours of daily curtailment, depending on their category and supply status.
Rural areas may face longer scheduled interruptions. According to the reported plan, certain non-cabled and non-metered feeders in districts including Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara and Budgam are listed for six to eight hours of daily cuts.
However, these categories should not be interpreted as blanket schedules for every household in a district. Curtailment is feeder-specific, and neighbouring localities may experience different supply conditions depending on the network serving them.
The department has also reportedly kept several essential-service connections outside the regular schedule or limited their curtailment to up to 30 minutes. These include hospitals, Government Medical Colleges, SMHS Hospital, district hospitals and water-supply schemes. Industrial feeders, including those serving the Lassipora Industrial Estate, have been listed for zero curtailment.
Why Is Kashmir Facing a 300 MW Power Shortfall?
The immediate problem is the gap between demand and available supply. But the wider challenge reflects the Union Territory’s dependence on electricity procured from outside J&K, the seasonal variation in hydropower generation and the continuing pressure on the distribution network.
1. Demand is rising ahead of peak winter
Electricity consumption in Kashmir typically increases as temperatures fall. Households use more electric heaters, blowers and geysers, while commercial establishments and public facilities also require reliable power during colder conditions.
The reported demand of 1,300–1,350 MW is already placing pressure on available supply. As winter advances, demand may fluctuate sharply during cold spells and evening peak hours.
The 300 MW figure is an estimate of the current gap at the reported demand and availability levels—not a guarantee that the same deficit will persist at every hour or throughout the winter.
2. Local generation remains well below installed capacity
According to the figures cited by Kashmir Life, J&K-owned power stations have an installed capacity of around 1,197 MW, but actual generation has been fluctuating between approximately 360 and 400 MW.
The difference between installed capacity and actual output is important. Installed capacity indicates the maximum rated output of generating assets; it does not mean that all that electricity is available continuously. Actual generation depends on operating conditions, water availability for hydropower stations and other technical factors.
Seasonal declines in river discharge can reduce hydropower output during winter, precisely when heating demand increases. This creates a difficult supply-demand mismatch for a region that depends heavily on electricity for household heating.
3. J&K relies heavily on power imports
Jammu and Kashmir reportedly procures nearly 84% of its electricity from outside the Union Territory. Officials cited by Kashmir Life said imports were around 2,000 MW, while generation from J&K-owned stations fluctuated between 360 and 400 MW.
The Union Territory also receives electricity from centrally owned hydropower projects, with reported generation from those projects at around 1,100 MW against an installed capacity of nearly 2,200 MW.
These figures refer to different parts of the power portfolio and should not be added together as though they represent one fixed, simultaneous supply position. Actual availability changes with demand, generation, procurement and grid conditions.
The scale of import dependence nevertheless highlights the challenge: local generation alone cannot meet the region’s electricity requirements, leaving supply exposed to wider procurement and availability constraints.
Is Jammu Facing the Same Power Crisis?
The electricity situation across Jammu and Kashmir cannot be assessed solely by comparing the latest demand figures for the two divisions.
Figures attributed to the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) put the recorded load at around 1,170 MW in Kashmir and 1,130 MW in Jammu. These are recorded load figures; they should not be confused with the peak demand estimates of 1,300–1,350 MW reported for Kashmir or treated as a direct measure of how many hours of electricity each division receives.
The two regions also have different seasonal demand patterns. Kashmir’s electricity stress intensifies during winter, when heating requirements rise and hydropower generation can weaken. Jammu typically experiences substantial summer demand due to air-conditioning and cooling loads.
This seasonal difference helps explain why winter power cuts are especially prominent in public discussion in Kashmir. It does not, by itself, establish that one region is deliberately receiving preferential treatment.
The more useful comparison is whether consumers in both divisions receive supply according to the announced rules, how much power is actually available, and whether local distribution infrastructure can deliver it reliably.
Does the Same Curtailment Policy Apply to Both Regions?
The government’s earlier stated framework linked scheduled curtailment to feeder-level AT&C losses rather than explicitly assigning different hours of cuts to Jammu and Kashmir as regions.
Under that framework, feeders with losses below 15% faced no scheduled curtailment, those with losses between 15% and 40% faced three hours, and those above 40% faced six hours. The revised Kashmir schedule reported on October 18 now lists four tiers, including 30-minute cuts for feeders with losses up to 15% and up to eight hours for those above 65%.
The latest published details specifically describe KPDCL’s schedule for Kashmir. They should not automatically be treated as proof that Jammu’s distribution company has implemented an identical revised timetable. A precise comparison would require the current Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) schedule and feeder-level data for the same period.
The distinction is significant: a common policy principle does not necessarily mean identical schedules or equal reliability across every locality. Feeder losses, network capacity, infrastructure constraints and actual supply availability can all affect the hours consumers experience without electricity.
In September, the government told the Assembly that feeders experiencing frequent interruptions, low voltage or inadequate supply were being monitored on the basis of feeder performance, loading conditions, consumer complaints and field reports. It also cited network-strengthening works under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and UT Capex.
Why AT&C Losses Matter for Consumers
Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses broadly capture electricity lost in distribution as well as gaps between the electricity supplied and the revenue realised. Technical losses can arise from ageing or overloaded lines and equipment, while commercial losses can reflect unmetered consumption, inaccurate billing, theft and poor collection.
The department’s stated approach makes feeder performance central to the curtailment decision. That places pressure on distribution authorities to improve infrastructure, metering, billing and revenue collection—but it also means consumers connected to high-loss feeders may face longer scheduled cuts.
For households, the practical concern is that the reason for a feeder’s high losses may not be attributable to every consumer connected to it. Reliable supply therefore depends not only on enforcing the curtailment plan but also on addressing technical weaknesses, improving accountability and ensuring that the distribution system can carry the required load.
The latest schedule makes the difference between low-loss and high-loss feeders especially stark: half an hour of daily curtailment at one end of the scale and as much as eight hours at the other.
What Has KPDCL Done to Improve Supply?
The revised plan also reports an expansion in the number of feeders placed in the round-the-clock supply category.
Of the 1,335 11-kilovolt feeders under KPDCL’s jurisdiction, 85 additional feeders have reportedly been included in the 24-hour supply category, taking the total to 214. The newly included feeders were reported to have AT&C losses below 20%.
This is a potentially important step, but the number of feeders designated for round-the-clock supply does not, by itself, establish how reliably electricity is delivered to every consumer connected to them. Actual performance depends on network conditions, maintenance, grid availability and the ability to manage local demand.
The department’s reported network-improvement measures include replacing worn-out conductors with aerial-bunched cables, upgrading undersized conductors and replacing or augmenting overloaded and ageing distribution transformers. These upgrades are intended to reduce losses and improve the system’s ability to deliver electricity.
The results will be judged by whether consumers experience fewer interruptions, more stable voltage and more predictable supply—not simply by the number of projects or feeders covered.
What Should Consumers Expect as Winter Approaches?
The immediate outlook will depend on how demand develops, how much electricity is available during peak hours and whether the distribution network can deliver it under the revised timetable.
The reported shortfall of nearly 300 MW is a warning sign, but it should not be interpreted as a fixed deficit for every day of winter. Demand and availability fluctuate, and actual outages may differ from scheduled cuts because of technical faults, maintenance, grid constraints or other disruptions.
Consumers should check the official feeder-wise curtailment schedule issued by KPDCL for their locality rather than relying on a district-wide estimate. They should also distinguish scheduled load shedding from unscheduled outages and report persistent low voltage or interruptions through the appropriate electricity department channels.
For hospitals, water supply, households dependent on electrical equipment and businesses requiring continuous power, the reliability of essential and round-the-clock supply categories will be particularly important.
A Winter Test for Kashmir’s Power System
Kashmir’s approaching winter presents two connected challenges: securing enough electricity to meet rising demand and distributing the available supply fairly and reliably.
The reported 300 MW gap highlights the pressure on the Valley’s supply position. The revised curtailment schedule, meanwhile, shows how sharply the burden can vary between feeders, with some areas assigned only 30 minutes of cuts and others facing as many as eight hours daily.
The policy debate will therefore extend beyond how much electricity J&K can procure. It will also concern whether distribution losses are reduced, infrastructure upgrades translate into better service, essential supplies remain dependable and consumers receive clear, accurate information about their local schedules.
As temperatures fall, the effectiveness of the winter power plan will ultimately be measured in homes, hospitals, businesses and neighbourhoods: how often the lights stay on, how stable the voltage remains and whether scheduled supply matches what consumers actually receive.
