Strategize to reduce losses

Kashmir areas, especially in the summer capital of the region, Srinagar, have witnessed an improvement in the electricity supply this winter so far as the department has no longer opted to go for frequent power cuts, indicating that the power infrastructure has been upgraded in a way to ensure better supply to the consumers. Amid the improvement, the Power Development Department is expected to come up with a fresh power curtailment schedule for the winters, which include the additional hours of load shedding in the areas with high Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses. The decision reflects the growing stress on the power sector. It also underscores the urgent need to address long-standing inefficiencies that continue to burden both the system and honest consumers. High AT&C losses are largely the result of power theft, faulty infrastructure, unmetered connections and poor billing and collection mechanisms. Penalising entire localities with extended power cuts may help manage demand in the short term, but it risks deepening public resentment if not accompanied by visible corrective measures. Households and businesses that pay their bills regularly should not be made to suffer because of systemic failures or the actions of a few defaulters. The proposed curtailment schedule must therefore be backed by a clear and transparent strategy to reduce losses. Strengthening distribution infrastructure, accelerating smart metering, plugging illegal connections and ensuring strict action against habitual offenders are essential steps. At the same time, consumer awareness campaigns highlighting the link between losses and power supply can help build public cooperation.