The power supply situation across the Jammu region will turn grim in the coming days, as even in April, the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) is facing a shortfall of 200 Mega Watts (MW) because of an unexpected rise in the temperature and non-availability of sufficient electricity from the Northern Grid.
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From the middle of March to date, the temperature in Jammu has witnessed an unexpected rise. This has led to Air Conditioners (ACs) on a large scale. As such, the consumption of electricity by domestic consumers has increased considerably, much to the disappointment of the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited.
On the other side, because of less discharge of water in the rivers and subsequent acute shortfall in the generation of electricity by the hydro-electric projects, the Northern Grid is not in a position to provide electricity as per the contract signed with the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the official figures, there is a requirement of 1100 Mega Watts of electricity per day across the Jammu region. However, as availability from all the sources is just 900 Mega Watts, there is a shortfall of 200 Mega Watts.
Due to the inability of the Northern Grid to provide electricity as per the agreement, the Government has been left with the only option of purchasing power from the market, which is not feasible, keeping in view the hefty rate of Rs 15 per unit. “If the generation from the hydro-electric projects remains static or declines in the coming days, the market rate of the electricity will increase further, and in such a situation, the Government will be left with no other option but to resort to further curtailments”, official sources media.
“Though the J&K Government has signed the contract with the Northern Grid for 2600 Mega Watts, it cannot force the Northern Grid to provide electricity as per the agreement, especially when there is a drastic decline in generation from hydro-electric projects”, sources said, adding “as the consumption of electricity by the domestic consumers will increase considerably in the coming days due to continuous rise in the temperature the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited will have to resort to curtailments in all the areas”.
Disclosing that at present, the JPDCL is meeting the electricity requirement of the domestic consumers by curtailing 150 Mega Watts against a shortfall of 200 Mega Watts from the industrial areas, sources said, “this option will not work any longer as even the bodies representing the industries have submitted representations to the JPDCL expressing serious concern over prolonged curtailments after regular intervals, which according to them have badly impacted their production”.
“Keeping in view the serious concern conveyed by the industrialists, the Government will have to bring down the curtailments in industrial areas, and such a situation burden will come on common consumers”, sources said while disclosing that Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited is in the process of working out a curtailment schedule in such a manner so that neither the industrial areas nor the domestic consumers face power shut-down for hours together.
In response to a question, sources said, “even those areas which have recently been shifted to smart meters will have to face the curtailments notwithstanding the assurance of uninterrupted power supply by the Government to consumers having been provided smart meters”.
It is pertinent to mention here that on March 21, 2022, the Lieutenant Governor announced zero scheduled power curtailment to 6603 households in Jammu, where smart meters have been installed. A similar announcement had also been made with regard to such areas in Srinagar.
“It would be only after the rainfall in hilly areas, increase in water level in rivers and subsequent rise in the generation of electricity by the hydro-electric projects that situation will witness some improvement”, an officer of the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited said on the condition of anonymity, adding “whatever decision is being taken about the curtailment is only with the approval of the authorities at the highest level in the Government”.
