J&K power voltages hit severe lows: NRPC

Srinagar, May 4: In a stark admission before the Northern Regional Power Committee (NRPC), authorities have revealed that power voltages in Jammu and Kashmir have slumped to severe low levels.
The authorities have revealed that key 400kV and 220kV bus voltages across have slumped to severe low levels at 347kV and 178kV respectively—thus raising serious concerns of the power supply.
NRPC in a recent meeting stated that the 400kV as well as 220kV bus voltages at various stations in Kashmir valley are remaining critically low, also reaching 347kV and 178kV respectively.
“The low voltage is a perennial issue, and it has been deliberated in various meetings as well as in the recent meeting held in 2025,” it reads.
It also said, “Further Grid-India in quarterly operational feedback 2025 also highlighted low voltages at 400kV Amargarh, Wagoora and Wanpoh S/s, 400kV voltages are reaching 360kV at Amargarh, Wagoora and Wanpoh substations.”
NRPC also said that due to inadequate compensation in J&K STU network, severe low voltages have been observed in J&K grid.
In last week of April-2026, it was reported that from 17,489 Million Units (MUs) in 2020-21 to just 14,660 MUs in 2025-26, Jammu and Kashmir in nearly past five years has recorded a decline in hydel power generation by over 16 percent—reflecting an average annual fall of nearly 3-5 percent.
The official figures in this regard revealing the power generation of J&K in MUs from 2020-21 to January 2026 states that there has been a power generation fall by 16.18 percent.
The figures reveal that in the year 2020-21, J&K had generated a total of 17,489.83 MUs of power followed by 17,170.62 MUs in the year 2022-23.
It also said that during the year 2023-24, Jammu and Kashmir was able to generate only 16,282.93 MUs of energy followed by 15,595.82 MUs in 2024-25.
The figures further states that in the year 2025-2026: upto January-2026, J&K had generated only 14,659.92 MUs of power.
Stating the source and state wise generation data from various sources including thermal, hydro, nuclear and renewable energy for 2025-26 (upto January, 2026), the official figures reveal that a total of 14,659.92 MUs from renewable sources were generated by J&K including 375.01 MUs by the small hydro projects and 14,284.91 MUs from large hydro projects.
As already reported, Jammu and Kashmir has indicated that a power load requirement of up to 7 Gigawatts (GWs) by the coming five years needs to be considered in the winter season—signalling major infrastructure upgrades to avoid seasonal blackouts. (KNO)