Srinagar, Feb 26: In view of frequent power outages across Kashmir valley, Power Development Department (PDD) Monday said several high loss making feeders and Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses post snowfall were the major reason for unscheduled power cuts.
The department however said that it has sorted the power outage matter which its consumers were facing from past weeks.
Besides, it also informed that it was revising the load curtailment program to minimize distress power cuts.
PDD Principal Secretary H Rajesh Prasad told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that there may have been some localized power cuts wherein the AT&C losses were more than the normal.
The Principal Secretary acknowledged that there was an outage for the past couple of days. “Yes, the power was affected in the past few days. We have sorted the issue now.”
Prasad said, “We are focusing on the high loss making feeders where AT&C losses are high because of the power theft. We are trying to make some restrictions out there to minimize the losses. We have some feeders where the losses are very high and in those areas will have some extra power curtailments.”
It is pertinent to mention that Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses do not comprise only of power theft but an array of other losses like long distance transmission lines, non availability of ring feeders, voltage drop, losses due to faulty equipment, power loss due to cold temperature and other environmental factors.
On asking about the unscheduled power cuts in some metered areas, the Principal Secretary said, “We have even detected the losses in metered areas too and I have issued strict actions to the concerned officials to lookout in this regard. Losses in metered areas are not acceptable at all.”
He said that there are losses of more than 60 percent mostly because of pilferage in some of the areas. “We are going to act tough against those consumers.”
On asking about the unscheduled power cuts and extra curtailments in almost majority of the areas in Kashmir, Prasad said that due to the recent snowfall, the electricity load has increased.
“Power demand has increased post snowfall. Our supply position remains the same,” he said.
About the power generation, he said that it has not changed. “The power procurement from the centre and the local power generation remains the same.”
Prasad said, “The areas with more AT&C losses will likely have more curtailments. The existing power curtailment schedule stands.”
“We are likely to revise the power curtailment in those areas where AT&C losses are high or more than the normal areas. In those areas curtailment will be little more than the existing ones,” he said.
Meanwhile, KPDCL on its microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) said, “Dear Consumers: To ensure minimum distress cuts, #KPDCL is revising its Load Curtailment Program, till power availability position improves. Pl bear wd us & ensure judicious use of power, especially during peak hours. Avoid exceeding sanctioned load/hooking.” (sic.)
—(KNO)
