Load shedding in the Northern Areas is real and, in winter especially, severe: parts of Gilgit-Baltistan have seen more than 20 hours of power cuts a day in recent winters. The cause is simple. Almost all electricity in the region comes from small hydropower stations, and when rivers freeze and glacial melt slows in winter, generation falls sharply. Summer is far more comfortable, though outages of a few hours a day are still normal. This guide covers the pattern by season, what hotels do about it, and how to keep your devices charged regardless.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Cause | Near-total dependence on hydropower; low winter river flow cuts generation |
| Worst season | Winter (roughly November to March), improving from April |
| Typical winter cuts | Reports of well over 12 hours a day in affected towns, some over 20 |
| Typical summer cuts | A few hours a day is common, though it varies by town and year |
| Best backup | A hotel that names generator or solar backup, plus your own power bank |
| What to carry | Power bank, car charger, headlamp, spare batteries |
Why the power goes off
Gilgit-Baltistan and neighbouring valleys generate almost all of their electricity from small, run-of-river hydropower stations rather than the national grid, which barely reaches this far. That makes supply directly dependent on how much water is flowing. Rivers here are fed mostly by snowmelt and glacial melt, both of which slow to a trickle in winter, so generation drops sharply just as demand for lighting and heating rises. Officials in the region have pointed to exactly this seasonal drop as the cause of the worst outages, describing supply as easing again once flows pick up from spring. It is not a fault to be fixed on a given day; it is a structural mismatch between how the power is made and when people need it most.
How bad it gets, by season
Winter (roughly November to March) is when it matters most for anyone travelling. News reporting from recent winters has described entire towns in Gilgit-Baltistan going for many hours, occasionally most of a day, without grid power, with some areas reporting cuts of more than 20 hours in a 24-hour period during the worst spells. This is exactly the season covered by our winter packing list for the Northern Areas, and it is worth reading alongside this one if you are travelling between December and March.
Summer (roughly May to September) is far better, since higher river flow from snowmelt supports much more generation, but it is not fault-free. Short outages of a few hours, often scheduled and sometimes not, are still ordinary in many towns.
Shoulder seasons (April, October, November) sit in between and shift year to year depending on how early winter closes in or how late the melt runs.
Expect variation between valleys, too: a well-connected town on a larger hydro scheme may fare noticeably better than a smaller side valley on its own local supply.
What hotels and guesthouses do about it
Almost every hotel and guesthouse that hosts tourists regularly in Gilgit-Baltistan has some backup plan, because without one they could not operate through the winter. In practice this means:
- A generator that runs during outages, often on a schedule (commonly in the evening for a few hours) rather than continuously, to save fuel.
- Solar panels, increasingly common at newer or higher-end properties, sometimes paired with battery storage for lighting and charging even without a generator running.
- Larger chain hotels tend to be the most reliable. Gilgit Serena Hotel, for instance, has stated it runs on full generator backup, and its Sost property has added solar power alongside other efficiency measures.
- Smaller guesthouses vary a great deal. Some run a generator only for a couple of hours in the evening for lighting and phone charging; others have none at all outside the main season.
When booking anywhere in Gilgit-Baltistan for a winter trip, it is worth asking directly whether the property has generator or solar backup and, if so, for how many hours a day. Don't assume; ask.
How to keep your devices charged
You don't need to plan your whole trip around load shedding, but a few habits make it a non-issue:
- Carry at least one large power bank (20,000mAh or more), fully charged before you leave the last big town with reliable power.
- Charge in the car while you drive. A 12V car charger or inverter tops up phones, cameras and power banks on long driving days, which most Northern Areas days are anyway.
- Charge whenever power is on, not just at night. If the generator or grid comes on for two hours in the afternoon, use it, rather than waiting for the evening.
- Bring a headlamp or torch rather than relying on your phone's light, which drains the battery you may need for maps or emergencies.
- Download maps and information offline before you lose signal or power, since you can't assume you'll be able to load anything on the spot. Our travel guide covers connectivity and planning more broadly.
- Pack spare batteries for cameras and any medical devices, since these can't always be charged from a phone power bank.
Frequently asked questions
Is load shedding worse in winter or summer in the Northern Areas?
Winter, by a large margin. Almost all electricity here comes from hydropower, and low winter river flow cuts generation sharply, sometimes to just a few hours of supply a day in affected towns. Summer has its own shorter outages but is far more reliable.
Do hotels in Hunza and Skardu have generators?
Most hotels that regularly host tourists have some backup, whether a generator, solar power, or both, though the hours it covers vary a lot between a small guesthouse and a larger hotel. Ask directly when you book, especially for a winter trip.
Will my phone charger work during load shedding?
Only when the generator or grid supply is on. Carry a fully charged power bank and a car charger so you are not dependent on the hotel's electricity at the moment you need to charge something.
Does load shedding affect internet and mobile signal too?
Yes, indirectly. Mobile towers and Wi-Fi routers need power, so a long outage can also mean patchy signal or no internet until supply returns, on top of whatever coverage gaps already exist in the area.
