J&K Govt. Extends Power Amnesty Scheme for Domestic Consumers

Published On: March 31, 2025

The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially extended the Power Amnesty Scheme for domestic electricity consumers, providing relief to thousands of households. The initiative aims to encourage bill payments and improve revenue collection while reducing financial burdens on residents.

Extension of the Power Amnesty Scheme 2022

The Administrative Council, led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has approved the continuation of the Amnesty Scheme-2022 until March 31, 2025. This decision comes as a response to the significant number of domestic electricity consumers who were unable to benefit from the scheme in 2024. The extension ensures that more households can clear their outstanding electricity dues without additional penalties.

Reasons Behind the Extension

High Consumer Demand: Many households failed to avail of the amnesty benefits last year, prompting the government to reintroduce the scheme.
Revenue Enhancement: The initiative has already helped recover Rs 235.58 crore from domestic consumers in the 2023-2024 financial year.
Financial Relief: The scheme provides an opportunity for consumers to settle past dues without accumulating additional penalties or late fees.

Proposed Incentive-Based Payment Scheme

To further enhance compliance with electricity bill payments, the government is considering an incentive-based payment scheme.

Key Features of the Proposed Scheme

Rewards for Timely Payments: Consumers who consistently pay their electricity bills on time may receive incentives, such as discounts on future payments.
Encouraging Financial Discipline: Linking outstanding dues to future bill payments ensures a structured approach to clearing past arrears.
Boosting Revenue Collection: By promoting timely payments, the government aims to minimize losses and enhance financial sustainability within the power sector.

Importance of Smart Metering in Revenue Collection

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha emphasized the crucial role of metering in streamlining electricity usage and bill payments. The government is pushing for widespread installation of smart meters to:

Reduce power theft and unauthorized electricity consumption.
Ensure accurate billing, eliminating errors associated with manual readings.
Enhance transparency in electricity usage and charges.
Improve overall revenue collection efficiency.

Impact of the Amnesty Scheme on Electricity Consumers

The Power Amnesty Scheme has already demonstrated significant success in reducing financial burdens on consumers while helping the government recover substantial dues. With the latest extension, domestic users in Jammu and Kashmir have another chance to clear their outstanding electricity bills without penalties.

Benefits for Consumers

Debt Clearance Opportunity: Consumers can pay their dues in a structured manner without additional penalties.
Financial Relief: Reduces financial strain on households, particularly in rural and lower-income communities.
Encourages Regular Payments: The proposed incentives motivate consumers to maintain consistent payments, avoiding future accumulation of dues.

The extension of the Power Amnesty Scheme 2022 until March 31, 2025, reflects the government’s commitment to easing financial challenges for domestic electricity consumers. By integrating incentive-based payments and smart metering, Jammu and Kashmir aims to enhance revenue collection while providing significant relief to residents. Consumers are encouraged to take full advantage of this opportunity and clear their dues before the deadline to avoid additional financial liabilities.