No General Hike in Electricity Tariffs for 2025–26

The Jammu and Kashmir government has confirmed that public welfare remains its top priority. The government will maintain current electricity tariffs and suspend the Tariff of the Day (ToD) system for now.

This ensures domestic consumers will not face any general tariff increase for FY 2025–26.

The Office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said,
“The government continues to prioritise people’s welfare by keeping electricity affordable. There will be no general rise in tariffs, and the ToD system remains unchanged.”

Power Development Department to Bridge Revenue Gap

The Power Development Department, led by CM Omar Abdullah, informed the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) that the government will cover the revenue gap. Grants will support power utilities in both Jammu and Kashmir.

Following this, JERC directed that domestic consumers continue with existing tariffs until March 2026. This puts on hold the Union Power Ministry’s 20% surcharge under the ToD system for households.

“The Commission decided to maintain current tariffs for FY 2025–26, except for HT Power Intensive Units,” the commission stated.

Understanding the Tariff of the Day (ToD) System

The ToD system, introduced by the Union Power Ministry in 2020, charges different electricity rates based on the time of day:

• Higher rates during peak hours

• Lower rates during daytime/off-peak hours

The system mainly applies to commercial and industrial consumers with demand over 10 KW and HT consumers above 33 kV. Residential users, excluding agriculture, were expected to follow ToD by April 2025.

The goal is to encourage energy efficiency and align electricity costs with peak demand hours. Peak-hour rates can be 10–20% higher than daytime rates.

Political and Public Response

The ruling National Conference (NC) welcomed the decision to shelve the ToD tariff, calling it a relief for domestic users in winter.

NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said,
“The Omar Abdullah-led government is aware of the financial challenges people face. This step reduces the burden on electricity users.”

He added that the government continues to engage with central authorities to resolve power-related issues in Jammu and Kashmir.