NRPC raises concern over J&K’s mounting liabilities, dues cross Rs 150 crore

Srinagar: The Northern Regional Power Committee (NRPC) has raised a red flag over the whopping liabilities of Rs 150 crore against Jammu & Kashmir primarily on account of deviation charges and reactive energy charges.

The minutes of the meetings of 79th Northern Regional Power Committee (NRPC) and 54th Technical Co-ordination Committee (TCC) of NRPC held on May 30 reveals that the issue of non-payment of liabilities by J&K, on account of these charges, was discussed threadbare.

According to the record note of the meeting, the committee expressed concern over non-payment, stating that it was affecting payment to receivable entities of the Northern region.

“It is to be noted that non-receipt of payment from J&K leads to non-payment to the receivable entities of Northern Region,” reads minutes of the meeting.

The issue of non-payment of these liabilities was repeatedly raised by the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC) with J&K. “In this regard, NRLDC has already sent various communications to J&K. This agenda was also raised in special meeting with J&K on 06 Feb 2025 but there is no update about the payment. J&K representative kindly update the status and share the firm commitment date of the payment,” the document states.

NRLDC is operating and maintaining the “Northern Region Pool Account” for deviation charges, reactive energy charges and congestion charges in accordance with provisions under various CERC Regulations. As per Regulations, the concerned utilities are required to pay the indicated amounts within 10 days of issue of weekly energy account by NRPC secretariat.

However, J&K’s dues on account of deviation and reactive energy charges have remained pending for a prolonged period, with the last payment from Jammu & Kashmir Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL) received on February 9, 2024, the documents states.

In the meeting chairman NRPC, who happens to be J&K PDD’s Principal Secretary- assured the forum that efforts are being made to expedite the payment of DSM and reactive energy charges by J&K.

The Forum asked all constituents to clear their pending dues at the earliest—(KNO)