J&K people to cough up more as JERC hikes power tariff by 6.83 %

JAMMU, August 23;

Amid spiralling inflation and smart electricity meters making a hole in the pocket of a common man, the electricity consumers in Jammu and Kashmir have to cough up more for the electricity they use as Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has approved a 6.83% average hike in tariff across the Union Territory.

In an order issued here, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) approved a 6.83% average increase in power tariff. However, the JPDCL and KPDCL had recommended a hike of 5 percent to tide over the power deficit.

The JERC justified the increase of. 6.83 percent citing a revenue gap of Rs 502 crore even after Rs 2420.78 crore in financial support committed by the J&K Government as subsidy under Section 65 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

According to the order, the revised tariff will shore up the revenue to Rs 7854.94 crore, up from Rs 7352.87 crore at the existing rates.

The remaining gap of Rs 2420.78 crore will be covered through government grant-in-aid.

The JERC, however, claimed that the government’s fiscal support helped avert a tariff shock to consumers.

“If this entire gap had to be met through tariff alone, the tariff hike would have been around 40%, which would have resulted in a tariff shock to consumers,” the order stated.

As per JERC order, the new rates would be applicable to all consumers from September 01, 2026.

“The tariff and terms and conditions approved shall continue to apply until issuance of the next Tariff Order or until further orders of the Commission, unless amended, modified or extended earlier by an Order of the Commission,” the order stated.

The JERC further directed KPDCL and JPDCL to take immediate steps for implementation of the tariff order.