Srinagar, Aug 05: Nearly six lakh domestic power consumers across Jammu and Kashmir stand to benefit as the government has granted a final one-year extension to its Amnesty Scheme for Domestic Consumers–2022, offering full waiver on accumulated interest and surcharge on unpaid electricity bills.The move was formalised through Government Order No. 114-JKPDD of 2025, issued by the Power Development Department on August 4, a day after the Council of Ministers approved the extension under Decision No. 074/14/2025 dated July 29.Under the scheme, households with outstanding dues as of March 31, 2025, can clear their electricity bills by paying only the principal amount, with the entire interest and late payment surcharge waived off. The scheme will now remain valid until March 31, 2026.“This is the final extension, and no further amnesty will be granted beyond March 2026,” the government order stated, making clear the administration’s intent to permanently close the window for overdue payments after this deadline.Originally launched in September 2022 via Government Order No. 103-PDD of 2022, the amnesty scheme was first renewed in March 2024 through Government Order No. 47-JKPDD of 2024. It allows consumers to clear dues in equal monthly instalments, provided they also continue to pay their current bills on time.According to officials in the Power Development Department, the scheme aims to offer relief to families facing financial hardship while also improving revenue recovery from long-pending dues.However, the waiver applies only to domestic consumers, a provision that has drawn criticism from other sectors, particularly commercial establishments seeking similar relief.The decision has been widely welcomed by civil society groups and consumer rights advocates, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where penalties have made bill repayment unaffordable for many.“For many families, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, the accumulated interest and surcharge had made it nearly impossible to clear their power bills. This scheme is a lifeline,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama, whose bill had nearly doubled over the past three years due to penalties.Meanwhile, trade and industry bodies have urged the government to consider a parallel amnesty scheme for commercial consumers, many of whom are also burdened by heavy dues.“We welcome the decision for domestic consumers, but commercial establishments are equally burdened. Small shopkeepers, service providers, hotels, and manufacturing units are struggling to pay. The government should consider similar relief for them,” a local trade leader said.The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) echoed the appeal, warning that excluding commercial consumers from such relief could have adverse effects on the economy.“Thousands of businesses are already reeling under debt and reduced demand. A similar amnesty for commercial connections could prevent closures and job losses,” a KCCI member said.With the new deadline set for March 2026, the government has urged all eligible domestic consumers to take advantage of the scheme and settle their dues promptly. The J&K Power Development Corporation Limited (JKPDCL) is expected to roll out awareness and implementation campaigns in the coming weeks to ensure maximum participation.While the extension offers a fresh start for thousands of households dealing with electricity arrears, the growing demand for similar relief in the commercial sector suggests that the debate over equitable reforms in Jammu and Kashmir’s power sector is far from over.
