Hydel shortfall leads to increased load management during night hours: Power Division

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Apr, 2026) The Power Division on Wednesday said that a decline in hydel power generation by 1,991 megawatts on Tuesday night led to slightly higher load management by electricity distribution companies than initially scheduled.

In a statement, the spokesperson said that the overall shortfall during peak hours reached approximately 4,500 megawatts, while total electricity demand stood at around 18,000 megawatts.

The reduction in hydel generation was due to lower water releases from dams, as provinces had demanded less water compared to the previous year. The spokesperson added that the Indus River System Authority was releasing water from reservoirs in line with provincial requirements, which remained low due to recent rainfall and ongoing crop harvesting.

The spokesperson clarified that load management was being carried out only during night hours, while there was no shortfall during daytime.

He expressed optimism that water releases from dams were expected to increase in the coming days, which would subsequently enhance hydel power generation. The availability of RLNG would also help improve the overall situation.

The Power Division apologized for the additional load management caused by reduced hydel availability and urged consumers to minimize electricity usage during night hours and adopt energy conservation practices.