From ₹500 to ₹2,100 : Electricity bills hiked 400% in past two years.
Despite repeated government assurances that power rates would remain stable, widespread resentment has erupted across South Kashmir over what residents describe as “arbitrary and unbearable” hikes in electricity bills.
The Surge in Numbers
Local consumers report that monthly electricity fees, which averaged between Rs 400 and Rs 500 just two years ago, have now skyrocketed to Rs 2,080. This represents a nearly 400% increase, pushing many families into severe financial distress.
Financial Impact on Households
The hike has hit poor and middle-class families the hardest. Residents expressed frustration that even households with minimal energy usage—limited to basic lighting and small appliances—are receiving inflated bills usually associated with industrial consumption.
"This is nothing short of injustice. We were assured that tariffs would be rationalized and the poor would be protected. Instead, our bills have quadrupled. How can a daily wager or a small farmer afford this?"
— Local Resident
A Choice Between Food and Power
The timing of the increase has been particularly criticized. With rising prices for essential goods and limited income opportunities, residents claim the hike forces them to make impossible choices. “Electricity is a basic necessity, not a luxury,” one group of residents stated, noting that many now have to choose between buying food and keeping the lights on.
Demands for Government Action
Affected citizens are calling for immediate intervention from the administration, seeking the following:
- An immediate rollback of the revised tariffs.
- A rationalization of electricity bills based on actual income levels.
- A thorough audit of current metering and billing practices.
While officials have previously spoken about welfare and consumer relief, many now feel those assurances ring hollow. Residents have warned that if these grievances are not addressed, they will be left with no choice but to launch formal protests to seek justice for the economically weaker sections of the region.
Source: News Agency Reports