Srinagar,National Conference on Saturday said the proposal to hike electricity charges during peak hours was not initiated by the Jammu and Kashmir government but by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission, a quasi-judicial body that regulates power tariffs across India. Party senior leader and spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar said there is a need to clearly understand the origin of the proposal. He said JERC is responsible for tariff regulation nationwide and may not fully comprehend the harsh winter conditions and power dependencies in Kashmir. He added that the NC-led government has not proposed the surcharge and will oppose it at every stage. Dar said the party will challenge the surcharge recommendation tooth and nail and that the Chief Minister will present the government’s position before the Commission as and when required. The party also said the Lieutenant Governor appears unaware of the regulatory process and is attempting to exonerate the central government by shifting blame. Dar said the LG should study the functioning of JERC carefully before issuing statements. He added that any such hike would burden people who are already grappling with rising living costs and severe winter conditions. Imran Nabi Dar that the NC government will not allow the proposal to be implemented and will stand firmly with the public on the issue.