J&K departments, commercial users, security forces owe Rs 6,800 crore power dues

Srinagar, Sep 28: In Jammu and Kashmir, government, semi-government, commercial sectors and security forces establishments owe a whopping over Rs 6800 crore to Power Development Department (PDD) on account of unpaid electricity dues.
The government in a reply to the query of MLA Pampore, Hasnain Masoodi in Legislative Assembly said that there are over Rs 6870 crore pending dues lying with the commercial sector, industrial consumers, government, semi-government and security forces establishments.
The figures said that government and semi-government was the top defaulter that owes Rs 3155.69 crores to the PDD followed by the commercial sector with Rs 1833.60 crores, industrial consumers with 1005.89 crores and Rs 874.97 crores with the security forces installations.
The government however said that the DISCOM’s have been undertaking sustained measures for recovery of outstanding electricity dues through systematic monitoring of arrears, issuance of demand, payment notices to defaulting liquidation of outstanding dues and enforcement of disconnection of supply in cases of persistent default, in accordance with the applicable rules, regulations and prescribed procedures.
“Disconnection of electricity supply for nonpayment of dues is an ongoing enforcement measure and is undertaken by the concerned field formations, wherever warranted, after following the prescribed procedure” the government said.
The house was further informed that in the financial year 2025-26, PDD disconnected electricity supply of 88,387 government, semi-government, commercial sectors and security forces establishments and 50,226 disconnections in financial year 2026-27 on account of unpaid dues
It also informed the house that the supply is restored to consumers upon payment of requisite outstanding dues and completion of the prescribed reconnection formalities.
“DISCOM’s are continuously strengthening their revenue recovery mechanism with particular focus on commercial, industrial and other high-value defaulting Consumers,” the government said. (KNO)