“J&K relies on expensive power purchases from the Northern Power Grid Corporation despite its vast, untapped hydroelectric potential, leading to high consumer costs and resource inefficiency. This dependency underscores the inefficiency in tapping the region’s renewable energy resources.”
By Shafqat Bukhari
As Jammu and Kashmir braces for the harshest months of winter, the ongoing issues surrounding electricity supply and prepaid smart meters have sparked growing concerns among power consumers. Frequent power cuts during morning and evening hours have heightened apprehensions of long-duration outages, leaving households anxious about managing daily routines and essential heating requirements. At the same time, steeply hiked power bills are forcing the upper-middle-class segment to explore solarisation as a cost-saving alternative. However, the government’s delayed subsidy disbursement has compounded the difficulties for both consumers and banks involved in facilitating solar installations. Currently, the Jammu and Kashmir government offers a subsidy of merely Rs 9,000 for solarisation—a paltry sum when compared to the Rs 85,800 provided by the Central Government. Had the local government matched this amount, a far larger section of the population would have opted for solarisation up to 5 kilowatts, as their personal contribution would have been significantly reduced. The delay and inadequacy of the subsidy are discouraging households from embracing renewable energy, even as soaring power bills and frequent outages push them toward alternative solutions. It is particularly ironic that J&K, endowed with immense hydroelectric potential, continues to rely on power purchases from the Northern Power Grid Corporation at exorbitantly high rates. This dependency not only inflates the cost of electricity for consumers but also underscores the inefficiency in tapping the region’s renewable energy resources. The current scenario reflects a mismatch between J&K’s energy potential and its energy management policies, burdening households and stalling progress toward sustainable energy adoption. To address these pressing challenges, the J&K government must adopt a multipronged strategy.
“The Government must act now with a decisive, forward-looking policy. The goal is to stabilize power supply and cut costs using renewable energy, ensuring citizens have affordable electricity and are prepared to endure the winter without power shortages. To protect citizens from winter power distress and unfair pricing, the government needs an immediate and decisive policy. This strategy must prioritize renewable energy to stabilize the power supply, reduce costs, and secure a modern, equitable energy future. A successful winter depends on urgent government action. The policy must be decisive and focused on using renewable energy to make power supply stable and affordable for everyone.”
Firstly, reducing per-unit charges—especially during peak winter months—would provide immediate relief to domestic consumers across all categories. Secondly, enhancing the subsidy for solarisation from Rs 9,000 to at least Rs 85,800, in line with Central Government norms, would incentivize more households to adopt solar energy. Prompt transfer of subsidy amounts is equally critical; delays undermine both consumer confidence and the financial mechanisms that facilitate solar installations. A proactive and timely intervention could turn the current crisis into an opportunity. By combining tariff reductions with robust support for solarisation, the government can ease the financial burden on households, encourage renewable energy adoption, and optimize the region’s abundant hydro and solar potential. Moreover, strategic policy alignment with central schemes will ensure that the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir do not lag behind other parts of the country in transitioning toward sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy solutions. In conclusion, immediate reforms in subsidy disbursement and electricity pricing are essential to mitigate the hardships faced by J&K consumers. Only a decisive and forward-looking policy, focusing on affordability and renewable energy, can stabilize power supply, reduce costs, and prepare the region to withstand the winter months without distress. The government must act now to ensure that people benefit from both modern energy solutions and equitable power pricing.
