J&K power tariff hiked by 6.8%; Opposition corners Omar Govt

Within hours of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh approving an average 6.83 per cent hike in electricity tariffs for the Union Territory of J&K for FY 2026–27 (effective from September 1, 2026), Opposition parties issued a sharp reminder to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of failing to deliver on his party’s election promise of 200 units of free electricity for consumers.

National Conference Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah was among those who questioned the Omar-led Government over the party’s failure to implement its electoral promise of 200 units of free electricity.

Leaders belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Conference, and Apni Party also cornered the Government over delivering a high-voltage shock at this juncture.

Speaking to reporters, Ruhullah said the National Conference had promised 200 units of free power during the elections, but it had not fulfilled the commitment even after two years. Instead of giving 200 units for free, nearly seven per cent is being increased,” Ruhullah said.

Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma said the NC had come to power with a clear promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to every household, but nearly two years after the 2024 Assembly elections, the commitment remained unfulfilled.

Instead, he said, consumers were now being burdened with higher electricity bills. This is not relief; it is a betrayal of the trust placed in the Government,” Sharma said.
People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone, in a post on X, said, People in Jammu and Kashmir will now have to pay more from their pockets for electricity. The regulator has approved a 6.83 per cent hike in power tariff and says it has avoided a tariff shock. It is definitely a shock for those who were promised 200 units free in 2024 by the ruling party.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Ur Rehman Para also criticised the decision.

In a post on X, Para said the tariff increase had come at a time when unemployment and inflation were putting pressure on households. He said ordinary families were already struggling with rising living costs and questioned the decision to increase electricity tariffs. Para also referred to the ruling party’s pre-election promises of 200 units of free electricity, free gas and free ration for the people.

“From free tariff promises of relief to higher bills, what happened to the promise?” Para asked in his post, while tagging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s official X account. Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said only an insensitive Government can think of putting an additional burden on people by increasing power tariffs.