Srinagar, Aug 22: Electricity consumers across Jammu and Kashmir are set to face higher power bills from September 1 after the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) approved a revised retail tariff for Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL).

The new tariff carries an average increase of 6.83 per cent over existing rates and will remain effective from September 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, unless modified or extended by the Commission.
The actual impact, however, will vary according to consumer category, monthly consumption and sanctioned load. For metered domestic consumers, the energy charge has been fixed at ₹2.45 per unit up to 200 units, ₹4.20 for 201–400 units and ₹4.60 above 400 units, besides a fixed charge of ₹10 per kW per month.
This means households crossing the 200- or 400-unit thresholds are likely to see a sharper rise in their monthly bills.
Concessional rates have been retained for vulnerable and priority categories. Eligible BPL households consuming up to 30 units a month will pay ₹1.40 per unit, with a fixed charge of ₹5 per kW per month. Small agricultural consumers with connections up to 20 HP will be charged ₹1.05 per unit, along with a fixed charge of ₹23 per HP per month.
Commercial consumers will also face revised rates. Single-phase non-domestic consumers will pay ₹3.75 per unit up to 200 units and ₹5.70 beyond that, with a fixed charge of ₹75 per kW per month.
The revised order also provides separate tariff structures for LT and HT industrial consumers. Eligible commercial and industrial consumers under the Time-of-Day tariff will face higher charges during peak hours while receiving rebates for consumption during solar hours.
JERC has approved a combined Annual Revenue Requirement of ₹10,275.72 crore for JPDCL and KPDCL for 2026-27. Revenue is projected to rise from ₹7,352.87 crore under the existing tariff to ₹7,854.94 crore under the revised structure.
The remaining ₹2,420.78-crore revenue gap will be bridged through government subsidy and grant support. The Commission noted that recovering the entire gap through tariffs could have required an increase of nearly 40 per cent, making subsidy support crucial in limiting the burden on consumers.
The tariff order also covers EV charging stations, government departments, railway traction, bulk supply and temporary connections. The Green Power Tariff has been retained at ₹0.50 per kWh over the applicable category tariff.
JERC has simultaneously approved the Business Plan and Multi-Year Tariff framework for JPDCL and KPDCL for 2026-27 to 2028-29, setting the course for the power distribution sector over the next three years.
For consumers, however, the immediate reality is clear: electricity will cost more from September, with higher consumption bringing a higher burden.