Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Apr 7: The Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC) has hauled up the Jammu & Kashmir State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), demanding an explanation for a crippling 51 percent shortfall in power availability.
According to the official document, the Chief General Manager (CGM) of System Operation (SO) at NRLDC has asked J&K SLDC to inform the reason for the shortage of 51% in energy.
Pertinently NRPC in the month of February had anticipated power supply position for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with minus 51 percent.
About the Power Purchase Agreement with J&K and Punjab, the CGM (SO), NRLDC asked how Punjab would provide power to J&K, given that Punjab itself faces shortages during the morning and evening peak hours.
In this regard, Punjab SLDC informed that they have a tie-up with J&K during the summer season for meeting paddy load requirements.
“Accordingly, whenever surplus power is available, they supply it to J&K, and in case of a shortfall, they purchase power from the market and supply it to J&K during that period,” reads the document.
Meanwhile, NRPC Member Secretary highlighted the concern of Total Transfer Capability (TTC) and Available Transfer Capability (ATC) limit violations in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, and voltage issues in J&K, stressing the need for system augmentation.
Earlier in last week of March, KNO reported that Jammu and Kashmir is likely to require additional 300 Megawatts (MWs) of power during the peak hours over the coming three years.
The official documents in this regard reveal that from the upcoming financial year 2026-27, Jammu and Kashmir will likely require 3813 MWs of power during the peak demand.
The authorities have further projected that in the financial year 2027-28 Jammu and Kashmir will require 3964 MWs of electricity during the peak hours followed by 4117 MWs of energy in the financial year 2028-29.
Apart from peak demand, the authorities have projected that there will be an electrical energy requirement of 23,372 Million Units (MU) in the financial year 2026-2027.
