Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha presided over a meeting to evaluate the performance of the Power Development Department and assess the power situation in the Union Territory.
During the meeting, the Lt Governor discussed the comprehensive strategy of the Power Development Department to meet the peak electricity demand and emphasized the need to enhance sustainability and efficiency to ensure a reliable power supply during the winter season.
He directed officials to implement concrete measures aimed at maximizing power supply to areas equipped with smart meters and reducing AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses in these regions to single digits. The saturation of smart meters in Jammu, Srinagar, and District Headquarters should be prioritized to ensure metered areas receive reliable and high-quality electricity services.
It was reported that approximately 4 lakh smart meters have already been installed across the Union Territory.
The Lt Governor also stressed the importance of adhering to curtailment plans and promptly replacing damaged transformers to prevent inconvenience to consumers, particularly in border and remote areas during the upcoming winter season. Efforts to combat power theft through effective on-ground enforcement were encouraged.
The Lt Governor called for harnessing the potential of new and renewable energy sources and ensuring the effective implementation of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in the Union Territory.
H. Rajesh Prasad, Principal Secretary of the Power Development Department, provided an overview of the department’s interventions aimed at reducing the demand and supply gap. He highlighted the significant capacity additions made to meet the increased peak demand after the previous winter.
The Lt Governor underscored the need for resource adequacy to ensure an additional power capacity to meet the rising demand during the winter season.
It was reported that from the Financial Year 2020-21 to 2023-24, the peak demand had increased by over 28%, while the peak deficit had decreased from 22% to 12%.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Dr. RP Singh, Chairman JKPCL; Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners; Heads of Departments and Power Corporations; Chief Engineers, and senior officers, both in person and through virtual mode.
