SRINAGAR: Domestic electricity tariffs for metered consumers in Jammu and Kashmir have increased by 15 to 25 paise per unit under the tariff applicable for 2026-27, while the fixed charge on contracted load has risen from Rs 8 to Rs 10 per kW per month, according to a Power Development Department reply tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The tariff details were provided in response to a starred question by MLA Mehraj Malik regarding electricity billing, the PM Surya Ghar scheme and power supply.
According to the department’s tariff comparison, consumers using up to 200 units a month now pay Rs 2.45 per kWh, against Rs 2.30 in 2023-24. For consumption between 201 and 400 units, the rate has increased from Rs 4 to Rs 4.20 per kWh.
For consumption above 400 units, the tariff has risen from Rs 4.35 to Rs 4.60 per kWh.
The fixed charge for contracted load has increased by Rs 2 per kW per month, from Rs 8 to Rs 10.
For BPL domestic consumers using up to 30 units a month, however, the energy charge remains unchanged at Rs 1.40 per kWh and the fixed charge at Rs 5 per kW per month.
The department said the tariffs were approved by the J&K State Electricity Regulatory Commission. It also clarified that electricity supply hours are not linked to the tariff order and are regulated by the distribution companies through their Load Curtailment Programme.
Power cuts linked to demand-supply gap
The department said power interruptions in some areas continue despite smart-meter installation, but attributed these interruptions mainly to load-shedding arising from demand-supply gaps during peak summer and winter periods, besides maintenance and restoration following breakdowns.
It said such interruptions were not related to smart meters, which are intended for metering and billing.
The distribution companies are implementing infrastructure upgrades under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. Feeders where low-tension aerial-bunched cabling and metering have been completed are being monitored for low-loss performance and supplied electricity according to LCP criteria.
The department said around 714 feeders have been declared 24×7, with additional feeders in the pipeline.
66% consumer base covered by smart meters
Around 66 per cent of the consumer base has been covered by smart metering, according to the reply.
The department said electricity bills are generated through automated systems based on actual meter readings, while flat-rate consumers are billed according to sanctioned load. It said the removal of manual intervention had reduced discrepancies in meter readings.
Billing complaints, including those concerning bills that consumers consider inconsistent with actual meter readings, are received by the DISCOMs and examined through field verification.
Consumers can register complaints at sub-division and division offices, through the toll-free helpline or via the online Consumer Grievance Portal. The department said bills are corrected according to actual meter readings within the timeframe prescribed under the Standards of Performance Regulations.
PM Surya Ghar consumers to bear upfront cost
On the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the department said eligible residential consumers have to bear the upfront installation cost under the scheme guidelines, with Central and UT financial assistance reducing the overall cost.
For a 1 kW rooftop solar system, the benchmark cost is Rs 55,000, against which Central Financial Assistance is Rs 33,000 and UT subsidy Rs 3,000, taking the total subsidy to Rs 36,000.
For a 2 kW system, the benchmark cost is Rs 1.10 lakh, with Rs 66,000 in Central assistance and Rs 6,000 as UT subsidy, totalling Rs 72,000.
For 3 kW, the benchmark cost is Rs 1.595 lakh, while the combined subsidy is Rs 94,800, comprising Rs 85,800 in Central assistance and Rs 9,000 in UT subsidy.
For 5 kW, the benchmark cost is Rs 2.585 lakh and the total subsidy is also Rs 94,800, comprising Rs 85,800 in Central assistance and Rs 9,000 in UT subsidy.
The department said the scheme is intended to help households reduce electricity bills through rooftop solar generation and provide long-term financial savings.
It said DISCOMs are assisting eligible consumers with technical-feasibility checks, inspections, commissioning and net-metering, besides creating awareness about available subsidies.
Rs 37.07 lakh spent on DT transportation in Doda
The Power Development Department reported expenditure of Rs 37.07 lakh on mechanical transportation of distribution transformers in Doda during 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Of this, Rs 20.71 lakh was spent in 2024-25 and Rs 16.36 lakh in 2025-26.
No expenditure was reported for loading or unloading, or for installation of distribution transformers, in either of the two financial years.
Unmetered tariff structure revised
The annexure to the reply also records changes in the tariff structure for unmetered domestic consumers.
For loads up to ¼ kW, the 2023-24 monthly charge was Rs 227, with the department recording an increase of Rs 57 at that load.
For loads above ½ kW up to ¾ kW, the 2023-24 charge was Rs 780 per month, while the 2026-27 structure provides for Rs 294 for every ¼ kW up to 2 kW, in multiples of ¼ kW.
For loads above 2 kW, the earlier formula of Rs 2,080 plus Rs 650 for every additional ¼ kW above 2 kW has been revised to Rs 2,272 plus Rs 568 for every additional ¼ kW above 2 kW.
The department’s annexure notes that the slab methodology and formula for unmetered consumers have been revised.
