In anticipation of severe electricity shortages during the winter season, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has urged domestic consumers to switch to solar rooftop panels under the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana—an initiative of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
A spokesperson for KPDCL clarified that bulk text messages sent to consumers regarding the installation of solar rooftop plants are genuine and authorised.
These messages target domestic consumers and those with Rate Code 1 who have monthly electricity bills exceeding Rs 2,000. The aim is to encourage them to adopt solar energy in order to reduce costs and benefit from significant subsidies. The scheme offers a central subsidy of Rs 85,800 and a Union Territory share of Rs 9,000 for solar installations up to 3 kW.
Of the 24,558 metered consumers who have registered their mobile numbers with KPDCL, 24,538 have already received these messages. The campaign will continue in a timely manner to ensure broader outreach, according to the spokesperson.
This initiative is part of a larger effort to promote renewable energy in the region and alleviate the burden on the grid during peak demand. By installing solar rooftops, consumers can significantly lower their electricity bills and contribute to sustainable energy use. KPDCL has appealed to consumers to regard these messages as authentic and to act promptly to take advantage of the scheme.
Power supply tends to decrease in winter as hydel power generation falls due to low water discharge. This often leads to increased purchases of batteries and inverters. While people commonly use traditional options like the Kangri—an earthen pot covered with wicker sticks containing burning coal—to stay warm, frequent outages can make life difficult in the cold weather of the Valley.
In the past two years, the power department has installed smart meters to combat pilferage and power theft. However, the rising power bills generated by these smart meters have become a contentious issue, with consumers claiming the charges are beyond their means to pay. The National Conference-Congress government has promised to provide 200 watts of free electricity to economically weaker sections of society at the start of the new year. Recently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised concerns about heavy load shedding in winter during meetings with Union ministers and requested assistance for Jammu and Kashmir to meet its energy needs.