Srinagar, Feb 5: The installation of smart meters and technology-driven reforms have led to improved revenue realisation and a reduction in power losses across Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Economic Survey Report 2025-26.

 

The survey said that 6.46 lakh smart meters have been installed under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) against a revised target of 6.86 lakh meters. Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), 5.25 lakh smart meters had been installed as of January 14, 2026, against a sanctioned target of 14.07 lakh consumers.

 

Overall, the Union Territory has installed 11.71 lakh smart meters so far, against a cumulative target of 20.93 lakh, the report said.

 

Strategic IT interventions and enforcement measures have also contributed to a rise in power sector revenues. Revenue realisation increased by 16.34 per cent, from Rs 3,616.63 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 4,207.61 crore in 2023-24.

 

In 2025-26, revenue realisation stood at Rs 3,472.20 crore up to November 2025, and is expected to surpass last year’s figures by the end of the financial year.

 

The survey said the implementation of an Amnesty scheme in October 2022 enabled the settlement of legacy dues of domestic power consumers.

 

Around 3.32 lakh consumers benefited under the scheme, with Rs 411.40 crore recovered between October 2022 and November 2025 through structured instalment plans without late payment surcharges.

 

A study conducted across 367 feeders that were almost fully smart-metered assessed the impact of smart metering on power input and Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses.

 

The findings showed that in Jammu, AT&C losses declined from 30.79 per cent in 2022-23 to 23.44 per cent in 2024-25, while in Kashmir, losses dropped from 55.41 per cent to 35.26 per cent during the same period.

 

The study also recorded increases in units billed and revenue realised in both regions, alongside reductions in transformer damage rates and average daily power outage duration.

 

Looking ahead, the survey said further initiatives are planned to reduce power input and AT&C losses in smart-metered areas, construct new grid substations, expand transmission lines and augment existing grid infrastructure to meet future energy demand.–(KNS)