With the Srinagar station of Indian Meteorological Department forecasting wet weather in Jammu and Kashmir for three days starting November 6 and temperatures falling to sub zero levels in the hilly areas, winter seems to be finally on its way to Kashmir. This is the wretched period when the troubles of people, especially those living in the Valley, mount at an astronomical speed. In the coming weeks and months, as the initial winter knocks turn into gate crashes and the era of Chilai Kalan comes to rule Kashmir with its magnificent coldness, life will come to a standstill. In absence of basic amenities like a reliable power supply or motorable roads, a general apathy grips the society at large. Markets open late because traders don’t want to leave the comfort and warmth of their beds early in the morning. Banks, government offices and even courts open late because of similar reasons. The story is no different in the education sector which enters a state of hibernation as academic activities come to an end with the conclusion of exams. Perhaps with the exception of healthcare sector, there seems to be a general consensus within the working as well as the non-working class of Kashmir that day must start late during winters and end early. Kashmir is not the only place where society is consumed by this laziness during winters. But we stand apart by the sheer intensity of the troubles that hit us. And if there is one reason why Kashmir turns so cold, and not just temperature wise, it is the lack of a reliable power supply. Is there hope of a change being in the offing? While the high offices of the new administration have reportedly passed direction to ensure that power supply, that most sought after commodity which has been subjected to enforced disappearance in the past three decades, is provided without hassles to people in Kashmir, especially during winters, the orders have not translated into action on the ground. Every other day there are reports in newspapers of erratic power cuts even when the winter has not even officially arrived. With no visible change, the slogan of our ‘powerless’ state has already started reverberating in both rural and urban areas as well as newspapers. While people have to share a part of blame for erratic power supply and power deficit in J&K, the new admin can do more to fund the shortage of power while upgrading the existing power infrastructure.