“Unscheduled power cuts, prolonged shutdowns and inadequate infrastructure have turned electricity into a recurring winter struggle for households, businesses and students. Kashmir needs a dependable power supply, not another season of assurances.”
The onset of winter in Kashmir once again brings an uncomfortable reality to the forefront: electricity remains one of the region’s most persistent public service challenges. As temperatures dip, the demand for power rises, but households across the Valley find themselves grappling with prolonged power cuts, unscheduled shutdowns and an increasingly unreliable electricity supply. For many families, surviving winter has become as much about managing electricity shortages as coping with the harsh weather. Year after year, people are given assurances of improved power supply, infrastructure upgrades and better management of electricity distribution. Yet, the experience on the ground often tells a different story. Scheduled curtailment programmes are announced, but unscheduled outages frequently add to the hardship. In several areas, consumers are left uncertain about when electricity will return, making even routine household activities difficult. The problem goes beyond inconvenience. Electricity is no longer a luxury; it is an essential requirement for modern life. From heating arrangements and cooking to healthcare, education, communication and business operations, almost every aspect of daily life depends on uninterrupted power. In a region where winters are particularly severe, prolonged electricity shutdowns can have serious consequences, especially for elderly people, children, patients and economically vulnerable families. Students preparing for competitive examinations and university entrance tests are among the worst affected. The winter months are crucial for academic preparation, but frequent power cuts disrupt study schedules and force students to depend on alternative arrangements. Those who cannot afford generators, inverters or other backup facilities are placed at a further disadvantage. Education should not become a casualty of inadequate electricity management. The business community, too, bears the brunt. Small industries, workshops, restaurants, commercial establishments and other enterprises depend heavily on electricity for their operations. Frequent interruptions increase operating costs, affect productivity and discourage investment. For small traders already struggling with rising expenses, arranging alternative power sources becomes an additional financial burden. An economy aspiring to expand its industrial and commercial base cannot afford such persistent uncertainty. The question that deserves serious attention is why Kashmir, despite its considerable hydropower potential, continues to experience recurring power shortages. Hydropower generation, however, is not the only factor determining electricity availability. Seasonal variations in generation, dependence on power purchases, transmission constraints, distribution losses and growing consumption all contribute to the challenge. These realities must be acknowledged, but they cannot become permanent excuses for administrative inefficiency. The government and the concerned power departments need to move beyond the conventional approach of issuing curtailment schedules and making seasonal announcements. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive and transparent power management strategy. Strengthening transmission and distribution infrastructure, replacing ageing transformers, upgrading overloaded feeders, reducing technical and commercial losses and ensuring timely maintenance must become priorities. Equally important is accountability.
“Kashmir’s recurring winter power crisis requires structural solutions rather than seasonal tolerance. Access to electricity is a paid, essential public service fundamental to dignity and survival in severe cold, not a government concession. Governance must be measured by consistent power delivery during winter rather than pre-season announcements, necessitating long-term planning, institutional accountability, and infrastructure investment.”
Consumers deserve to know why electricity supply is interrupted beyond the announced schedule and how long repairs are likely to take. Authorities must establish effective grievance redressal mechanisms and ensure that complaints regarding damaged transformers, faulty lines and prolonged outages are addressed without unnecessary delays. A publicly accessible system for reporting outages and monitoring restoration would also improve transparency. At the same time, consumers must fulfil their responsibilities by paying electricity bills regularly, avoiding power theft and using electricity judiciously. The government cannot ensure sustainable supply without public cooperation. However, responsible consumption must go hand in hand with reliable service delivery. People cannot reasonably be expected to accept mounting electricity charges while continuing to face unpredictable shutdowns. The Government must also accelerate efforts to promote rooftop solar systems and other renewable energy alternatives, particularly for households and public institutions. Such initiatives can reduce pressure on the conventional electricity network and provide some relief during periods of peak demand. Kashmir’s winter power crisis should no longer be treated as an annual seasonal phenomenon that people are simply expected to endure. It demands long-term planning, institutional accountability, investment and political will. The people are not asking for unrealistic promises; they are demanding a basic public service that is essential for their dignity, livelihood and well-being. Electricity is not a favour extended to consumers. It is an essential service for which people pay. The real test of governance will not be the number of announcements made before winter, but whether households can keep their lights on when temperatures fall and the Valley enters its coldest months. Kashmir deserves a power policy that delivers electricity, not merely schedules darkness.
