The frequent electricity cuts in Srinagar and Jammu are no longer a seasonal inconvenience; they have become a glaring symbol of administrative failure. The irony is painful. On one hand, the government repeatedly highlights renewable energy expansion, smart meters, and infrastructure upgrades. On the other, residents of the twin capitals continue to suffer unscheduled outages during peak summer and winter months when electricity is needed most.
The Jammu and Kashmir government’s own Economic Survey 2025–26 admits that the Union Territory still faces a substantial power deficit despite rising investment and modernization claims. Peak power demand in J&K reached around 3,550 MW, while peak availability stood at only 3,133 MW, leaving a shortfall of nearly 417 MW. Even after years of promises, the gap between requirement and availability remains around 14 percent. This is not a minor technical issue; it is a structural governance problem.
The Power Development Department, directly supervised politically at the highest level, cannot escape responsibility by blaming weather, low water flow, or rising consumption alone. Jammu and Kashmir possesses an estimated hydropower potential of nearly 18,000 MW, yet only about 3,540 MW has been harnessed so far. A region rich in water resources ironically remains dependent on imported electricity and rationed supply.
The government often cites progress in renewable energy. Official figures show that rooftop solar installations have crossed 76 MW, with ambitious plans to scale further. However, publicity campaigns cannot substitute uninterrupted electricity. Citizens judge governance not through press conferences but through functioning fans, coolers, water pumps, hospitals, and businesses.
Jammu city particularly suffers during scorching summers when temperatures cross 40 degrees Celsius and power demand surges due to air-conditioning and cooling appliances. Srinagar faces similar misery during winters when heating demand peaks. Residents from both regions increasingly complain that curtailment schedules are either ignored or poorly implemented. Public frustration is visible not just in streets but across social media where consumers openly question why a region generating electricity still lives under routine load shedding.
The deeper issue lies in outdated transmission systems, overloaded transformers, distribution losses, and years of delayed reforms. Even official planning documents acknowledge that much of Jammu’s power infrastructure is decades old and requires urgent revamping. Smart meters alone cannot solve an infrastructure crisis if generation and distribution remain weak.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir do not demand miracles. They demand accountability. If the administration can claim achievements in renewable expansion and smart infrastructure, then citizens have every right to ask a simple question: why are the lights still going out?
