No Increase in Electricity Tariffs Despite Ground-Level Billing Concerns
The recent installation of 4.76 crore smart electricity meters in India has not translated into higher bills for consumers, as revealed by a PIB report issued on December 8, 2025. While the government has not raised electricity tariffs for the fiscal year 2025–26, concerns regarding billing efficiency and load revisions have surfaced on the ground.
Smart Meter Deployment Across India
Under various central and state schemes, including the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), a total of 4.76 crore smart electricity meters have been installed in India. This figure falls short of the 20.33 crore smart meters sanctioned nationwide, indicating a gap in deployment.
Smart Metering Rollout in Jammu and Kashmir
Official data from Jammu and Kashmir reveals that 10,15,139 smart meters were installed as of November 15, 2025, as part of the ongoing smart metering rollout in the region.
JERC Tariff Order No. 16 of 2025
The JERC Tariff Order for 2025 states that electricity tariffs will remain unchanged for the fiscal year. Consumers will continue to receive power at existing subsidised rates, with no enhancements. The order emphasizes the need to control distribution losses and warns against proposed tariff hikes that could lead to a shock for consumers.
Ground-Level Billing Concerns
Officials in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, highlighted the importance of conducting load revisions based on actual usage patterns to address low billing efficiency. Load adjustments are made selectively after thorough verification, and any complaints related to smart meters are promptly addressed to ensure accurate billing.
Consumer Agreements and Billing Practices
Consumer agreements have been revised to reflect actual usage, with inspections revealing increased household loads exceeding rated capacities. Billing is strictly based on recorded consumption, whether through smart meters or conventional meters. Areas without meters are billed under a flat-rate system, with charges escalating as load increases.
Meter Accuracy and Consumer Categorisation
Complaints regarding meter accuracy are thoroughly investigated, with billing generated from system-captured meter readings. Electricity tariffs do not differentiate between consumer categories based on economic status, with charges applied uniformly based on usage patterns. The concept of electricity as a luxury item under the current framework is highlighted, although official documentation supporting this claim is unavailable.
