‘No power tariff hike since December 2023’

Jammu, Feb 20: In an unusual turn of events, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference MLA from Srigufwara-Bijbehara Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri on Friday traded barbs in the J&K Legislative Assembly over the ìarbitrary power tariff hikeî issue.

The issue erupted almost at the very outset of the Question Hour, after the Chief Minister, who is also the Minister in-charge of Power Development Department, informed the Legislative Assembly that there had been no hike in power tariff since December 2023.

The Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, regarding rationalisation of power tariff.

Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri dissatisfied with the reply read by the Chief Minister, raising his supplementary, stated, ìOur all hopes are pinned on our Chief Minister and as far as I personally know himÖ.it hurts the most, when someone tells a lie because he (CM), himself is an upright person. And here just because of the people, Iím representing, I want to bring it to his (CMís) notice that I simply donít agree with the reply given. Sir, a wrong reply has been given.î

Veeri continued, ìOn the one hand, the department resorts to arbitrary hike while on the other hand, it (department) also does not stick to the power schedule designed by it. We understand that there are problems related to revenue. Sir, I could not sleep after going through this reply. There is a Sangam-Bijbehara feeder. There are 11 feeders in my area. Iíve empirical evidence with bill, in May 2023, under this feeder, Rs 920 used to be charged which increased to Rs 1300 in 2024 and up to November 2025, it spiralled to Rs 1560 and from December, 2025 onwards, it rose to Rs 1820, registering 100 percent increase from 2023 till now.î

NC MLA pointed out that the public representatives had to face music on the issue of (functioning of) Power Development Department (PDD). ìThey resort to frequent hikes (in power tariff) and then they had the audacity to tell lies from the teeth,î Veeri stated.

Referring to a number of other feeders in his constituency and quoting tariff hike rate, NC MLA maintained that he had collected many bills as evidence. In a specific case, he pointed out that there was a jump of 140 percent in tariff hike.

ìWith this arbitrary hike, there is so much anxiety among the people. Even the other day, Iíve highlighted that when PDD people (officials) are questioned vis-‡-vis their accountability, their response implies nothing but sheer arrogance. Even this time, they (PDD officials) have, through our Chief Minister, tried to mislead the House,î Veeri shared his angst.

Upon this, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather asked, ìWhat is your question?î Veeri had a counter question, ìSir did you read the answer?î

ìYes, Iíve read,î Speaker said.

ìSir, I had asked whether it is a fact that the steep and repeated hike in power bills across Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency has caused widespread anxiety among the consumers. However, the reply says that there has been no hike in power tariff since December 2023. And Iíve presented evidence in front of you,î Veeri said.

Speaker asked to read the complete reply. Veeri alleged that they (PDD) arbitrarily raised tariffs after every three months. ìWhich is the scientific methodology they are using for it?î he asked.

CM Omar repeated his reply. ìThere has been no hike in power tariff. It is on the basis of load; the bills are generated on flat rates. Even yesterday in my reply in the House, I had stated that the people generally donít disclose their actual load. But when the feeder is monitored or the distribution transformer is monitored, the discrepancy between the actual and declared load comes to the fore. Then we resort to load revision.î

ìI reiterate that there is no arbitrariness. There is no enmity with this honourable MLA. We too want him to enjoy a sound sleep during the night. Because when he does not have a peaceful sleep, it results in some mishap. And then we have to visit him in the hospital,î CM Omar said, bringing a lighter twist to the matter, evoking a big laughter in the House.

Recently Veeri had met with an accident and he was hospitalised. The Chief Minister and his other colleagues had visited him in the hospital to know his well-being.

Veeri said that he had researched on the issue (feeders) and had even written articles in the newspapers. ìThere is a discrepancy. Fee (revenue) is not realised from government and security establishments. Feeder consumption is divided among the ordinary consumers. This becomes a problem for us and we have to face music. Our electorates donít spare us. Their (security establishments) pending bills worth hundreds of crores should be realised so that the people should not suffer. Iíve to face protests almost every other day. The area is the epicentre of our opponents. Whatever experiment they have to do, they do against me. I seek justice,î Veeri insisted.

Upon this, the Chief Minister retorted, ìBefore becoming a minister, we all are MLAs first. We have to face protests and peopleís anger. If the MLA did not want to face it, he should not have contested to be an MLA. If he wants a remedy to it, in the next election, we can provide him with thatÖit will not be a problem for me. Still I assure the MLA that I want to see the research conducted by him and tally it with the data, statistics shared by the department with me. I find there is a discrepancy. Iíll study it (research) with my officials and then will convince him. Then, he will have to convince his electorate.î

Earlier CM Omar informed the Legislative Assembly that billing in metered areas was carried out strictly as per actual electricity consumption, while in non-metered areas, bills were raised on a flat-rate basis in accordance with the agreed load, without any arbitrariness.

Responding to a supplementary regarding rationalisation of power tariff, the Chief Minister said, ìTariff determination falls within the domain of the regulatory authority, namely the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC).î

He said the tariff was fixed strictly in accordance with the rationale and parameters laid down by the regulator.

The Chief Minister further clarified, ìAggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses are not realised from consumers.î