SRINAGAR, April 28: In a sweeping move to plug revenue leakage and force fiscal discipline, the Jammu & Kashmir Finance Department on Wednesday made prepaid smart meters mandatory for all government offices, residential quarters, corporations, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) — effectively ending the era of post-paid billing for the administration itself.
More than four months after a previous circular on the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the government has now issued a strict compliance directive to all Administrative Departments. The deadline to phase out the conventional post-paid billing system has been effectively shortened, with the Finance Department making it clear that outstanding dues must be cleared upfront.
In a terse order issued by Director General (Budget) Sd/ accessed Kashmir Convener the government has directed that prepaid meters be prioritised not just for office buildings, but also for residential quarters owned by the government, local bodies, and universities.
Under the new regime, Drawing & Disbursing Officers (DDOs) will be required to make advance payments for electricity — akin to recharging mobile phones or paying internet and statutory bills. “The payment of post-installation electricity charges (pre-paid payments) shall be made out of available budgetary allocation on the pattern of payments being made against telephone/Internet/Wi-Fi and other statutory dues,” the order reads.
The government has also asked departments to simultaneously reconcile and clear all outstanding electricity bills using available funds, noting that 50 per cent balance funds under the head “008-Electricity Charges” has already been released.
In a clear signal to departments to tighten their belts, the Finance Department has instructed Heads of Departments and DDOs to strictly monitor consumption to ensure usage stays within budget. However, an exception has been carved out for departments providing essential services or critical utilities. Such entities, if they face a fund crunch, can approach the Finance Department with a “reasonable and justified estimation” for additional funds.
Departments have been asked to operate on the new prepaid system for one to two months after successful installation, following which they may furnish a fresh fund estimation if required. “The aim is a smooth transition, but compliance is not optional,” a senior official told Kashmir Convener.
The move comes as the Power Development Department (PDD) and its DISCOMs struggle with mounting losses. While smart meters have been piloted in parts of Jammu and Srinagar, the latest order expands the scope to all government-owned establishments, marking one of the most aggressive reforms in the union territory’s power sector this year.
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