Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: To curb electricity theft and reducing revenue losses, the Power Development Department (PDD) has announced plans to install 7.5 lakh smart meters across Jammu in the coming days. Chief Engineer (Electric M&RE Wing Jammu), KK Thapa, said that the smart metering initiative will help bring transparency and accountability in power consumption.
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Highlighting the ongoing challenges in providing uninterrupted power supply, Thapa said, “We are making every effort to ensure 24×7 electricity in fully metered areas. However, rampant power pilferage and losses force us to implement Load Curtailment Plans (LCP) based on the performance of power feeders.”
As per the LCP, there is no power curtailment in Essential and Dedicated Feeders and those recording losses below 15%. Feeders with losses between 15% and 40% face a 2-hour cut, while those with higher losses face a maximum of 4-hour curtailment. “Last year, the maximum curtailment was up to six hours,” the Chief Engineer informed.
Referring to the power load being met, he said that the peak demand met last year was 1574 MW, whereas this year it reached 1624 MW on June 13, indicating improved supply capacity.
Responding to concerns about delays in replacing damaged transformers, Thapa refuted the allegations and said, “We have strict timelines – 8 hours in the city, 12 hours in urban areas, and 24 hours in rural areas – for transformer replacement, and our teams are adhering to them.”
He also touched on J&K’s status as a power-deficit region, noting that the commercial wing of PDD is actively managing power demand through a mix of short-term and long-term purchase agreements.
Urging the public to cooperate, Thapa appealed to consumers to avoid power theft and wastage, and to install smart meters to avoid penalties. “It’s unfortunate that honest consumers suffer because of theft by a few. We must all contribute to improving the power scenario,” he added.
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