CM Omar Abdullah defends hike in power tariff ‘owing to financial losses in electricity sector

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, AUGUST 24 (STC): Defending the government’s decision to increase electricity tariffs by 6.83 percent, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that the government had never promised that electricity tariffs would not be increased.
He clarified that the government’s election promise was to provide 200 units of free electricity to the poorest families and the current increase in electricity tariffs is a separate matter.
Talking to journalists in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said that the government had promised the people that 200 units of free electricity would be provided every month to families belonging to the poorest section of the society. The government, according to him, is planning to provide electricity through solar panels to fulfill this promise.
Defending the increase in electricity tariffs, the Chief Minister said that the government is not happy with this decision and neither was it the government’s desire to increase the tariffs, but rather this decision was taken under compulsion due to the financial losses incurred in the electricity sector. He said that the government is taking steps to reduce the losses incurred in the electricity sector.
“If electricity losses are reduced, the need for tariff hikes in the future may also be reduced. The losses in the power generation, transmission and distribution sector are a major challenge for the government and controlling these losses is necessary to reduce the additional financial burden on consumers, the CM said.
When the government was criticized by opposition parties including the BJP for increasing electricity tariffs, the Chief Minister said that those questioning the current increase should also remember the increase in electricity tariffs during the previous governments. He claimed that electricity tariffs had increased by more than 14 percent during the BJP regime. He also referred to the 15 percent increase that took place about four years ago.
The Chief Minister said that the government has taken into account various factors including inflation, fuel prices and the rising cost of essential commodities while increasing the current tariff. According to him, the government has tried to limit the increase in electricity tariffs to the extent that the administration can bear in the current circumstances.
Notably, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved an average increase of 6.83% in electricity tariffs for Jammu and Kashmir. The revised rates will be effective from September 1, 2026.

(Straight Talk Communications)