Srinagar, Jan 29: The electricity crisis in Kashmir has worsened after fresh snowfall, with authorities imposing frequent power cuts in both metered and non-metered areas due to a large gap between demand and supply.

Consumers reported that “unannounced” power cuts have resumed in smart-metered areas, despite government assurances of uninterrupted supply during winters. Non-metered areas are similarly affected.
Official data shows electricity demand in J&K has risen over 5% in the past eight years. The power department aims to double generation by adding 314 MW through four major hydropower projects by 2026, and an additional 3,284 MW via four more projects.
Currently, total generation is about 330–400 MW, down from a capacity of 1,200 MW, as freezing water bodies hamper hydropower production. Meanwhile, peak demand in the valley reaches 1,900–1,950 MW, forcing cuts of 200–250 MW during critical hours.
Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited supplies electricity to 13 lakh consumers, with only 4.5 lakh under smart meters. Efforts are ongoing to expand smart metering to the remaining consumers.