SRINAGAR: Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday accused the Jammu and Kashmir Government of placing an additional financial burden on electricity consumers by charging them for extra cable required during smart meter installation.
Here is another shocker of a gift for the people of J & K especially for the poorer sections of the society.
The smart metering is in process. The company issues a cable for connection to each household measuring not more than 4 meters. (2 meters for input and 2 meters for output)
Anything more than 4 meters has to be paid for by the household. Otherwise the household will not get electricity connection. And will be disconnected from the grid.
That means the farther the house is from an electric pole the more number of meters of cable is needed. Poor households have been forced to cough up anything between ₹ 4000 to ₹ 5000 to get smart meter installed.
So you get a windfall in terms of votes :-
By promising 200 units of free electricity. Two years have passed and not a single unit given free.
Smart metering was subjected to derision and sarcasm and anger by CM sahib, during the election campaign.
And now those who queued up to vote have to pay to get the smart meter installed.
That actually is a great joke. And the joke is yet again, on those who voted for CM sahib.
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) October 20, 2026
In a statement posted on X, Lone alleged that the company installing the meters was supplying only four metres of cable per household, with two metres allocated for the input connection and two metres for the output connection.
He claimed that consumers needing additional cable were being asked to pay for it, with some households reportedly spending between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 to get smart meters installed.
The MLA said the cost could rise further for households located at a greater distance from electricity poles, as longer cables would be required.
Lone argued that the additional expense was particularly difficult for economically weaker households. He also expressed concern that consumers could face disconnection if the required installation work was not completed.
Questioning Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the National Conference’s promise to provide 200 units of free electricity to eligible households, Lone alleged that the commitment remained unfulfilled despite two years having passed.
He also recalled the criticism of smart metering during the election campaign, arguing that consumers were now being asked to pay additional charges during installation.
“Those who queued up to vote have to pay to get the smart meter installed,” Lone said.
