The winter has not yet arrived but power has already started playing hide-and-seek with consumers in Kashmir Valley. This year, a spell of snowfall in autumn brought the power infrastructure down on its knees and exposed the gaps in the system that have not been filled over the years. The situation was so bad in the immediate aftermath of the snowfall that even the emergency lines that cater to the needs of hospitals went bust for hours. It took many days for the administration to come out of the shock and ordinary people in some of the affected areas are still waiting for restoration of normal power supply. But now that a semblance of normalcy has returned to the power sector, the Power Development Department has reportedly come out with a power schedule under which both metered and non-metered areas will have to face power outages this year, whatever happened to the 24 hour power supply in twin capitals announcement of the last governor. This schedule has come at a time when electricity is most sought-after commodity to beat the winter cold. The reason for longer power outages, we are being told, is that the demand peaks during winter as people start using electric appliances such as heating pillars, blankets, blowers, boilers, geysers and air conditioners to fight the winter chill. It is true that the demand for power in Kashmir during winters soars like a plane after takeoff from runaway. But when the engine is fuelled up and strong, the plane stays on its trajectory. Sadly, in our case, the engine of administration is corrupt and it takes just a day of snowfall to blow the façade of normalcy. Under law, uninterrupted power supply can’t be denied by PDD to consumers, especially in metered areas. The spike in power consumption is but natural during winter. Are people supposed to die of cold so that power demand doesn’t cross a permissible limit? It is both shameful and an admission of failure on behalf of any government which says that because the demand for power peaks during winters, it can’t be met under the existing situation. The power distribution network in Kashmir is unable to handle the demand and T&D losses are among the highest but if there are chinks in the system, it is the PDD which should be held responsible. To punish a consumer who pays his or her monthly bills on time and without restoring to power theft for the sins of those who steal power and don’t want metered power is just not done.