SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are likely to face a power deficiency of around 14 per cent during solar peak hours in October 2026, according to projections by the Northern Regional Power Committee (NRPC).
The two Union Territories are also expected to face a power shortfall of nearly 12 per cent during peak non-solar hours, according to the official figures.
During solar peak hours, J&K and Ladakh are projected to require 2,850 MW against an anticipated availability of 2,450 MW, leaving a gap of 400 MW, the NRPC said.
During peak non-solar hours, the requirement is projected at 2,872 MW against an availability of 2,535 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 337 MW.
The projected gaps work out to approximately 14 per cent of the requirement during solar peak hours and 11.7 per cent during non-solar peak hours.
The NRPC has issued the revised anticipated power supply position for October 2026 for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The projections come amid expectations of rising power demand in Jammu and Kashmir in the coming years.
According to official documents cited in the report, Jammu and Kashmir may record a peak demand of 3,813 MW during the ongoing fiscal year, 2026-27.
The demand is projected to rise by another 151 MW in 2027-28, taking the expected peak requirement to 3,964 MW.
For 2028-29, Jammu and Kashmir is projected to require an additional 300 MW of peak power compared with the 2026-27 projection.
By 2029-30, the peak demand is expected to reach 4,262 MW, representing an increase of 449 MW over the projected requirement for 2026-27.
The projected increase comes against a longer-term rise in power demand in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to figures cited by the news agency KNO, power demand in the Union Territory increased by more than 24 per cent over the past 12 years.
The Government of India has said that Jammu and Kashmir recorded an increase of 3,971 million units (MU) in power demand between 2014-15 and 2025-26.
The latest NRPC projections indicate that the power supply-demand gap could remain a challenge, particularly during peak consumption periods.
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