J&K power tariff hike: Why 6.83% increase has put Omar govt on the defensive over poll promise

The Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir has criticized the Omar Abdullah government over a proposed 6.83% power tariff hike that will take effect from September 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. This power tariff hike is a significant concern for the government as it was a key issue in the recent Assembly elections. The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) approved the increase, which is higher than the Power Development Department's initial proposal of 5% across sub-categories.

The hike is particularly problematic for the government as several rural areas still get electricity under old agreements, which hinders their ability to provide free electricity to households. The opposition parties, including the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the J&K Apni Party, have staged protests in Srinagar against the hike. PDP leader Waheed ur Rehman Para has called for the immediate withdrawal of the tariff hike, stating that it is "outright anti-people and anti-poor".

In response to the protests, the Chief Minister of J&K has defended the hike, stating that the government is still subsidizing power to a great extent despite inflation and increased electricity supply. He also reminded the opposition that their party had previously proposed even larger increases in power tariffs. However, the government's stance is that consumers in J&K still pay a smaller portion of the real cost of electricity supply, with the government providing about 24% of the total cost as subsidies.