If you live in Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, or any other district in Bihar, your electricity is supplied by either the North Bihar Power Distribution Company (NBPDCL) or the South Bihar Power Distribution Company (SBPDCL). For years, understanding your bill was a nightmare due to complicated telescopic slabs and varying state subsidies.
Recently, the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) changed everything. They abolished the confusing multi-tier slab system for domestic consumers and replaced it with a simple, flat-rate structure coupled with a generous 125-unit free subsidy.
Let’s break down exactly what the 1 unit electricity price in Bihar is today, how the Mukhyamantri Free Electricity scheme works, and why fixed charges and electricity duty still make your bill higher than expected.
The End of Slab Rates: Bihar’s Flat Tariff Structure
In almost every other state in India, electricity is billed on a “telescopic” basis (e.g., the first 100 units are cheap, the next 100 are more expensive, etc.). Bihar has completely removed this system for domestic households.
Today, there are no slabs. There is only one flat base rate, regardless of whether you consume 10 units or 1,000 units. However, this flat rate is quite high.
📊 Bihar Domestic Tariff Base Rate (Urban & Rural)
| Consumption Slab | Base Energy Rate (per unit) |
|---|---|
| All Units Consumed | ₹ 7.42 |
⚡ Monthly Fixed Charges (Per kW):
- Urban (DS-II): ₹80 per kW
- Rural (DS-I): ₹40 per kW
The Mukhyamantri Yojana (125 Free Units)
A flat rate of ₹7.42 per unit would be financially devastating for poor households and middle-class families. To counter this, the Bihar Government enforces a massive monthly subsidy under the Mukhyamantri scheme.
Here is how the subsidy interacts with the flat rate:
- The First 125 Units: Completely Free (₹0.00 base charge).
- Excess Units: Any unit consumed above 125 is billed at the flat ₹7.42 rate.
⚠️ Example — Consuming 200 Units in Bihar
Unlike states that penalize you for crossing a limit (where you lose the entire subsidy), Bihar’s system is very forgiving. You only pay for the excess units.
- Total Consumption: 200 Units
- Free Units: 125 Units
- Billable Units: 75 Units (200 – 125)
- Base Energy Charge: 75 × ₹7.42 = ₹556.50
The Hidden Cost: 6% Electricity Duty
The base rate of ₹7.42 is not the final amount you pay per unit. The Bihar state government applies a 6% Electricity Duty on your total bill (which includes the energy charges for the excess units and your total fixed charges).
For an urban household with a 2 kW load consuming 300 units:
- Billable Units: 175 (300 – 125 free)
- Energy Charge: 175 × ₹7.42 = ₹1,298.50
- Fixed Charge: 2 kW × ₹80 = ₹160.00
- Subtotal: ₹1,458.50
- 6% Duty: ₹87.51
- Total Bill: ₹1,546
Because of this 6% duty, every unit you consume above the 125-unit free limit actually costs you closer to ₹7.86 per unit.
⚡ Stop Manually Calculating the Subsidy
Deducting the 125 free units, applying the flat ₹7.42 rate, adding load-based fixed charges, and calculating the 6% duty is tedious. Use our free Bihar electricity bill calculator. Just enter your units and your sanctioned load, and it instantly generates your exact NBPDCL or SBPDCL bill.
Commercial, Industrial & EV Tariffs
Businesses, factories, and EV stations in Bihar operate on separate, heavily taxed tariff structures with very high fixed charges.
Commercial Shops (Non-Domestic NDS-II)
Shops and offices in urban areas do not receive any free units. They pay a high flat rate from unit one, plus a massive fixed charge based on their load.
Flat Energy Rate
₹7.73/unit
Fixed Charge
₹300/kW/mo
Note: The 6% electricity duty applies on top of both the energy and fixed charges.
Small Industries (LTIS-I)
Light industries, workshops, and small factories are billed at slightly higher energy rates and carry steep fixed infrastructure costs.
- Energy Rate: Flat ₹7.79 per unit
- Fixed Charge: ₹278 per kW per month
EV Charging Stations
To promote electric vehicles, the base rate is kept slightly high, but the government waives all monthly fixed charges for dedicated charging stations.
- Energy Rate: Flat ₹8.72 per unit
- Fixed Charge: Nil (₹0.00)
3 Strategies to Lower Your NBPDCL / SBPDCL Bill
| Strategy | Why it works in Bihar |
|---|---|
| Target the 125-Unit Mark | Because Bihar charges a massive flat ₹7.42 per unit after the free limit, every unit saved past 125 instantly saves you ₹7.86 (including tax). Changing old fans and bulbs to energy-efficient ones has a massive ROI. |
| Downgrade Sanctioned Load | Urban homes pay ₹80 per kW, and commercial shops pay a brutal ₹300 per kW. If you have a 5 kW meter but only ever use 2 kW simultaneously, legally downgrading your load saves thousands annually. |
| Pay Online Before Due Date | NBPDCL and SBPDCL offer up to a 1.5% prompt payment rebate if you pay your bill online before the due date through their official Suvidha app or portal. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 1 unit electricity price in Bihar for domestic use?
Bihar recently abolished slab rates. All domestic households are billed at a flat base rate of ₹7.42 per unit. However, a 6% electricity duty is added on top of this rate.
How many units are free in Bihar?
Under the state subsidy scheme, the first 125 units of electricity consumed in a month are completely free for all domestic households. You only pay for units consumed above this limit.
Is the electricity rate different in Patna compared to rural areas?
The per-unit energy rate (₹7.42) is exactly the same for both urban (DS-II) and rural (DS-I) consumers. The only difference is the fixed charge. Urban homes pay ₹80/kW, while rural homes pay ₹40/kW.
What happens if I consume 150 units in Bihar?
Because the first 125 units are free, you will only be billed for the remaining 25 units. Those 25 units will be charged at ₹7.42 per unit, plus your fixed load charges and 6% electricity duty.
Do commercial shops get the 125 free units?
No. Commercial properties (shops, offices, clinics) do not receive the 125-unit subsidy. They are billed at a flat ₹7.73 per unit from the very first unit, alongside a high fixed charge of ₹300 per kW.
Is the tariff different for North Bihar (NBPDCL) and South Bihar (SBPDCL)?
No. The tariff rates, fixed charges, and subsidy rules are identical for both distribution companies. They are both regulated by the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC).
Official Resource: For further details on tariff orders and subsidy updates, visit the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) Official Website.
Disclaimer: The tariff rates, fixed charges, and duty figures mentioned are based on the latest BERC Tariff Orders. Electricity tariffs are subject to periodic revisions. Always refer to your official NBPDCL or SBPDCL bill or the Bihar Suvidha app for your exact billing details.
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