The Power Development Department of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a detailed response to concerns raised by Altaf Bukhari regarding high electricity bills in rural and urban areas.
The department emphasizes that there has been no tariff hike, but rather a calibrated rationalization of sanctioned load based on actual usage and connected load. According to the statement, electricity tariff rates in J&K are set by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), an independent body. These rates are calculated to cover various costs, including power purchase, transmission expenses, staffing, and maintenance. The department notes that J&K’s electricity tariffs are among the lowest in the country.
A significant challenge highlighted is the low metering percentage, particularly in the Kashmir region. Only 32% of residential consumers (318,605) are metered and billed based on actual consumption, while the remaining 68% (663,520) are charged on a flat-rate basis. This discrepancy often leads to a mismatch between charges and actual usage, resulting in substantial losses for DISCOMs.
The department reports that recent surveys and enforcement drives have uncovered instances where consumers have declared much lower connected loads than their actual usage. To address these issues, DISCOMs in J&K are actively participating in the Government of India’s RDSS scheme, which aims to improve power supply quality and reliability.
Key initiatives under the RDSS scheme include achieving 100% smart metering and LT-AB cabling. These efforts have already shown positive results, with Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses decreasing from 63% in 2021-22 to 44% in 2023-24.
To further reduce losses in unmetered areas, the department has implemented several measures:
- Calibrated rationalization of load based on actual electricity usage and connected load, following Electricity Supply code regulations.
- Implementation of JERC-devised flat-rate tariffs to incentivize consumers to switch to metered billing.
- Counseling and encouragement for consumers to opt for metered billing if they find flat-rate charges disproportionate to their consumption.
The Power Development Department assures that these measures are designed to ensure fair billing practices and improve the overall efficiency of the power distribution system in Jammu and Kashmir. The department stresses that no consumer will receive inflated bills due to these rationalization efforts.
As the region continues to work towards comprehensive metering and more accurate billing practices, officials encourage consumers to engage with the department and consider transitioning to metered connections for more precise and fair electricity charges.
