JAMMU, June 12:Confusion has gripped the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) following reports of a hike in power tariffs, leaving consumers across the UT bewildered as they receive inflated bills from the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD).
Chief Engineer Manhar Gupta asserted, “There has been no hike in power tariff in J&K.” However, conflicting information emerged from the official desk of the JKPDD, where officials confirmed the tariff hike, indicating consumers are now being charged at Rs 5 per unit.
“Yes, the tariff this time around has been hiked and consumers have been served bills at Rs 5 per unit,” affirmed JKPDD representatives manning the helpline number 01912479122, adding, “the power consumers all across J&K UT have received inflated bills due to power tariff hike.”
In a contradictory stance, Chief Engineer Manhar Gupta attributed the inflated bills to a “non-functional system for capturing power consumption/energy,” denying any tariff hike.
Further adding to the confusion, a representative at the JKPDD helpline desk reiterated, “this time around the power consumers have been served bills at the rate of Rs 5 per unit as a whole.”
Previously, the department’s tariff structure included Rs 3.83 per unit for consumption between 1-200 units, Rs 4 for 200-400 units, and Rs 5 per unit for consumption exceeding 400 units.
The conflicting statements from JKPDD officials underscore a lack of clarity and communication within the department, leaving consumers grappling with higher bills and seeking transparent explanations to address their concerns effectively.
