AJK Electricity Department

AJK’s Power Distribution Network is unique one, because of unique mountainous and hilly terrain and mostly rural communities scattered all around the hills and in the valleys. However, over 94% population in 1670 villages has been provided with power facilities and connected directly with the National Grid System.

The Operational Wing of AJK Electricity Department is being administered by tworegional functional heads i.e. Chief Engineer (North), administering seven northern districts, while Chief Engineer (South) controls three southern districts. Each region has two Circles having their offices at Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli& Mirpur.

Statistically, over 88% consumers of AJJKED fall under the domestic and 11% in commercial category, while 1% came under govt. or semi govt. category, whereas the industrial connection are even below 1%. Hence almost 78% energy is consumed by domestic consumers, which mostly falling in low category slab.Hence, AJKED is facing the big challenges of maintaining this network as per national/international standards and up to the expectations of its consumers. The most crucial challenges of AJKED are higher line losses, Problems in arrears recovery, deficient Human Resources, sscarcity of O&M budget &operating facilities and transmission &distribution network limitations.

AJKED has contributed enormously for socio-economic uplift of the people of AJK by:

• 94% population of AJK has been provided the power/energy facilities at their doorsteps.
• 7% of the villages/towns have been electrified.
• Over 550,000 houses have been provided with electricity facility.
• Over 77,000 families are being supplemented to earn their livelihoods by providing them commercial and industrial connections.

The rural electrification has also contributed towards:

• Reduction in the urbanization to considerable limit.
• Reduction on the burden on the natural forests and hence controlled deforestation.
• Power facilities have flourished many other sectors, especially self- employment, education, tourism and agriculture.
• AJK achieved the higher literacy rate in the region due to availability of power facilities to all the widths and breadths of the State.