Electrifying U-Turn: Omar Abdullah’s Prepaid Meter Push Sparks Public Outrage

Where Has the Free Electricity Promise Gone?

By: Javid Amin | 17 October 2025

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government is under fire after announcing a full-scale rollout of prepaid smart electricity meters across Jammu & Kashmir — a move sharply contrasting with his 2024 election promise of providing 200 units of free electricity per month to poor households.

The announcement has unleashed a wave of anger and disillusionment, with opposition parties branding it a “betrayal of the poor” and civil society groups accusing the administration of “digitalizing hardship under the guise of reform.”

From Promise to Prepaid: The Flip in Policy

When the National Conference (NC) stormed back to power in 2024, its manifesto titled “Dignity, Identity, and Development” promised 200 free power units — a pledge that resonated deeply across Jammu & Kashmir.

Back then, Omar Abdullah, in his campaign rallies, had criticized the Lieutenant Governor-led administration for “treating electricity like a corporate commodity instead of a public right.”

But in October 2025, the same Omar Abdullah defended the prepaid meter rollout, saying it would help achieve uninterrupted electricity supply and reduce transmission losses.

“The more meters we install, the less electricity curtailment people will face,”
— Omar Abdullah, CM J&K, addressing the Power Department review meeting.

That single line — equating meterization with modernity — ignited an uproar.

Residents across both regions, already grappling with inflation and inconsistent power supply, took to the streets and social media with biting sarcasm:

“Where has the free electricity promise gone? Why are we being asked to recharge our rights like mobile phones?”

Understanding the Prepaid Meter Plan

According to the J&K Power Development Department (PDD), the prepaid meter rollout is part of a broader Smart Electricity Management Mission, supported by the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) of the Union Power Ministry.

Key Components of the Rollout:

• Installation of 25 lakh prepaid meters across Jammu & Kashmir by March 2026.

• Integration with online recharge portals and mobile apps for user convenience.

• Real-time consumption monitoring and automated disconnection in case of unpaid balances.

• Implementation under a public-private partnership model with private vendors handling logistics, maintenance, and data analytics.

Officials claim the transition will:

• Reduce power theft and billing inefficiencies.

• Enable accurate consumption tracking.

• Support round-the-clock electricity by stabilizing demand and revenue flow.

But critics argue it’s a corporate-centric model that ignores the economic fragility of common consumers in a region already burdened by unemployment, inflation, and unreliable infrastructure.

The Politics Behind the Power Play

This controversy cuts deep into the credibility crisis that has haunted Omar Abdullah’s government as it completes its first year in office.

During the 2024 campaign, the NC leadership’s rhetoric revolved around “reversing anti-people policies of bureaucratic rule.” One of the most emotional planks was the promise to restructure electricity tariffs and end “draconian” billing practices introduced post-2019.

Now, with prepaid meters being championed by the same administration, the opposition has pounced on the irony.

Opposition Fires on All Cylinders

PDP’s Reaction

Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), accused Omar of “betraying the mandate that brought him back to power.”

“He spoke against prepaid meters when he needed votes and now enforces them when he has power. This is not reform — it’s reversal of public trust,”
— Mehbooba Mufti, PDP President.

BJP’s Response

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been targeting the NC-Congress alliance as “a regime of deception”, sharpened its attack.

BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said:

“This government promised free electricity. Now it wants people to recharge their meters before turning on a bulb. Governance has turned into a prepaid joke.”

BJP J&K spokesperson Altaf Thakur called the policy a “betrayal wrapped in technology,” arguing that it criminalizes poverty under the pretext of modernization.

Congress’s Dilemma

As a coalition partner, Congress finds itself in an awkward position.
While not opposing the rollout publicly, several Congress legislators from Jammu have privately expressed concern over the backlash in rural constituencies where prepaid meters are seen as “anti-poor.”

“Our alliance cannot afford the perception that we’re punishing voters with digital billing,” a Congress MLA said on condition of anonymity.

Ground Reality: Anger on the Streets

In Srinagar:

Residents of Habba Kadal, Bemina, and Eidgah staged small protests outside local PDD offices, accusing officials of “forcing meter installations without consent.”

Aasiya Jan, a homemaker from Bemina, said:

“We voted for free electricity, not prepaid stress. Half the time, the app doesn’t work. When the balance runs out, power cuts off in the middle of the night.”

In Jammu:

In Bishnah, R.S. Pura, and Udhampur, traders have complained that prepaid meters hurt small businesses already hit by high tariffs and power outages.

Ramesh Kumar, a shopkeeper, said:

“Earlier, we paid monthly bills. Now, we recharge every few days. It’s like running a shop on an electric timer.”

Rural Impact:

In far-flung areas like Kupwara, Kishtwar, and Poonch, connectivity issues make online recharges nearly impossible.
Field reports show many consumers still lack smartphones or digital literacy, making the shift logistically painful.

“They talk of smart meters, but what about smart policies?” asked Mohammad Shafi, a farmer in Kupwara.
“If the government wants discipline, it must first provide stability.”

The Economics of Electricity: What’s at Stake

The J&K Power Development Department (PDD) has long struggled with financial losses due to transmission theft, unpaid dues, and subsidy burdens.

• Annual Power Purchase Bill: ₹7,800 crore

• Revenue Collection: ₹4,200 crore

• Deficit: ₹3,600 crore (2024–25 est.)

Officials argue prepaid meters could help close the revenue gap and modernize distribution networks.

But economists warn that social equity must accompany fiscal discipline.

Dr. Zubair Shah, an economist at the University of Kashmir, notes:

“Revenue recovery is necessary, but so is consumer protection. A smart grid without social sensitivity is a recipe for unrest.”

He adds that the NC government’s U-turn has “turned an administrative reform into a political self-goal.”

The Political Symbolism: From Populism to Pragmatism

Analysts say Omar Abdullah’s shift from promising free power to defending prepaid power signals a larger ideological recalibration.

“This is Omar 2.0 trying to appear pragmatic rather than populist,” says Dr. Hilal Naqash, political scientist at Central University of Kashmir.
“But in a region where politics is emotional, not just administrative, pragmatism without empathy looks like betrayal.”

The prepaid rollout, coupled with unfulfilled job and welfare promises, feeds a growing perception that the NC’s comeback government is heavy on symbolism but light on delivery.

Civil Society’s Verdict: Reform Without Inclusion

Consumer rights groups like the Kashmir Power Watch, Jammu Civil Forum, and People’s Alliance for Public Utilities have jointly criticized the prepaid rollout as technologically opaque and socially regressive.

Their demands include:

• Differential tariff slabs for rural and low-income households.

• Offline recharge kiosks for digitally excluded populations.

• Transparency on data handling by private contractors.

• Public consultation before district-level rollout.

“This is being sold as modernization, but it’s actually monetization,” said Ruhani Ahmad, co-founder of Kashmir Power Watch.
“Electricity is a public good, not a prepaid luxury.”

Inside the Government’s Defense

In an interview with local broadcaster Kashmir Newsline, Power Minister Nasir Aslam Wani defended the decision:

“Smart metering is not a punishment. It’s a path to power reliability. Free electricity is meaningless if you have no power to consume.”

The minister claimed the first phase of meter installations in Srinagar, Jammu, Baramulla, and Kathua had already led to a 20% reduction in line losses.

Officials also hinted that “targeted subsidies” might replace the universal 200-unit free scheme — a shift from populist welfare to means-tested benefits.

But the messaging remains unclear, and so does the trust deficit.

What the Data Says

According to PDD’s internal progress report (September 2025):

The numbers reveal a paradox:
While financial metrics have improved, public satisfaction has plummeted, exposing the political cost of efficiency-driven governance.

The Constitutional Angle: Federal Push, Local Fallout

The prepaid meter project is part of the Central Government’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) — a flagship program to reduce AT&C losses below 12% nationally.

Implementation in J&K is co-funded by the Centre (60%) and the UT government (40%), executed through private contractors under the Power Grid Corporation’s supervision.

Thus, Omar Abdullah’s government finds itself trapped between compliance and commitment — legally obligated to execute the scheme, but morally accountable to its voters who expected relief, not recharges.

Social and Emotional Undercurrents

The outrage isn’t just about policy — it’s about trust, tone, and timing.

Omar Abdullah’s remark comparing prepaid electricity to “recharging mobile phones” was widely perceived as insensitive, especially among elderly and rural voters.

“Mobile phones are optional. Power is not,” wrote a columnist in Kashmir Reader.
“You can’t equate a human necessity with a gadget.”

Public humor turned into political satire online, with hashtags like #RechargeYourRights, #BijliJihad, and #SmartMeterSiyasat trending across Kashmiri Twitter (X).

The Road Ahead: Redemption or Repetition?

Facing growing unrest, sources in the Power Department hint that the government may introduce a two-tier policy:

• Phase I (Urban & Commercial Zones) – Mandatory prepaid meters.

• Phase II (Rural & Low-Income Households) – Subsidized or hybrid models with partial subsidy.

However, activists warn that without transparency, the damage to public trust may be irreversible.

“People remember broken promises longer than power cuts,” says Dr. Sameer Bhat, sociologist and columnist.
“Every meter now is not just a device — it’s a reminder of disillusionment.”

Bottom-Line: The Shock of Political Reality

The prepaid meter controversy encapsulates the larger dissonance between promises and policies in Omar Abdullah’s first year in office.

What began as a campaign of emotional restoration — “dignity, identity, and development” — now risks being remembered for “discontent, disillusionment, and disconnect.”

While prepaid metering might make technical sense, its political cost is immense.
In the battle between fiscal reform and public faith, the latter is flickering — one recharge at a time.