Karnataka is home to one of the most significant electricity billing reforms in recent Indian history. In a move that surprised many energy analysts, the state completely eliminated its traditional multi-slab telescopic tariff structure for domestic consumers and replaced it with a single flat rate. Today, whether you consume 201 units or 2,000 units in a month, every unit of electricity used by a Karnataka home is charged at a uniform ₹7.00 per unit. Paired with the state government’s Karnataka Gruha Jyothi 200 units free scheme, this creates a genuinely simple billing environment for qualifying households. Our Karnataka electricity bill calculator 2026 reflects these latest rates and the BESCOM Gruha Jyothi subsidy, giving you an accurate estimated bill in seconds.
To understand the exact per-unit cost structure that applies to your home, we strongly recommend reading our detailed guide on the 1 unit electricity price in Karnataka. It provides a full breakdown of the ₹7.00 base rate, the ₹0.92/unit fuel surcharge, how the 9% electricity duty is applied, and why fixed charges vary by connected load. Together, those details and this calculator give you a complete picture of what drives your monthly BESCOM bill.
In this guide, we explain the simplified BESCOM bill calculation formula for domestic consumers, walk through worked examples with actual numbers, cover all the discoms in Karnataka, and share five concrete strategies on how to reduce electricity bill in Karnataka.
Karnataka’s Major Reform: One Flat Rate for All Domestic Consumers
Before FY 2025-26, Karnataka residential consumers faced a complex multi-slab rate structure where the per-unit price kept rising as consumption increased. The state government, as part of the Gruha Jyothi rollout, chose to simplify this by moving to a single unified rate for all domestic consumption above the free-unit limit.
Here is what the current Karnataka domestic tariff structure looks like under the latest KERC (Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission) order:
- Gruha Jyothi Scheme: Qualifying households (BPL / Anthyodaya / below-poverty-line) consuming 200 units or less per month receive those units completely free. The entire bill is waived — no energy charge, no fixed charge, no fuel surcharge, no duty.
- Standard Domestic (Above 200 units or non-Gruha Jyothi households): A flat ₹7.00 per unit is charged on every unit consumed, starting from unit 1. There are no lower-slab concessions for the first few hundred units.
- Fuel Surcharge: An additional ₹0.92 per unit is added on top of the ₹7.00 base rate, making the effective energy cost ₹7.92 per unit. This BESCOM fuel surcharge rate includes a ₹0.56/unit FY 2024-25 true-up recovery levied by KERC.
- Fixed Charges: Unlike Tamil Nadu (which waives fixed charges for domestic consumers), Karnataka charges ₹115 per kW of connected load per month, regardless of how much electricity you actually consume.
Electricity Bill Calculators for Neighboring States
Karnataka shares borders with several major states. Compare your BESCOM bill with the Kerala Electricity Bill Calculator (KSEB hybrid rates), the Telangana Electricity Bill Calculator (TGSPDCL Gruha Jyothi), the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Bill Calculator, the Maharashtra Electricity Bill Calculator, or the Tamil Nadu Electricity Bill Calculator (TANGEDCO).
How to Calculate BESCOM Electricity Bill (Step-by-Step)
Understanding how to calculate BESCOM electricity bill is simpler than in most other states because of the flat-rate structure. Here is how to use our online calculator:
- Step 1: Read Your Monthly Units: Note the total units consumed this month from your BESCOM smart meter display or the printed bill received from your discom.
- Step 2: Enter Units in the Calculator: Karnataka bills monthly. Enter the number of units consumed in the current 30-day billing period.
- Step 3: Enter Your Connected Load (kW): Your connected load is the total kilowatt capacity of all electrical equipment on your premises. This is typically found in your original connection approval letter or on your bill. It determines your fixed charge amount.
- Step 4: Select LT-1 Domestic: Choose the residential category from the dropdown. If you run a commercial establishment, choose LT-3 Commercial instead.
- Step 5: Click Calculate: The tool applies the ₹7.00 base rate, adds the ₹0.92/unit fuel surcharge, calculates your fixed charge on connected load, applies 9% electricity duty, and determines whether Gruha Jyothi applies to give you a complete itemized estimate.
BESCOM Domestic Tariff Rates (FY 2026-27) — Full Breakdown
The table below shows the complete BESCOM domestic tariff rate structure, including all charge components that appear on a Karnataka residential electricity bill:
| Charge Component | Rate / Value | Applies To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gruha Jyothi Subsidy | Full Bill Waiver | ≤ 200 units/month (qualifying households) | Zero bill for BPL / Anthyodaya card holders |
| Base Energy Rate (LT-1) | ₹ 7.00 / unit | All units consumed (non-Gruha Jyothi) | Single flat rate — no slab breaks |
| Fuel Surcharge | ₹ 0.92 / unit | All units consumed | Includes ₹0.56/unit FY25 true-up levy |
| Effective Energy Cost | ₹ 7.92 / unit | Total per-unit cost (base + surcharge) | Before duty and fixed charges |
| Fixed Charge | ₹ 115 / kW / month | Based on connected load (kW) | Charged regardless of units used |
| Karnataka Electricity Duty | 9% of energy + fixed | All payable bills | One of the higher state electricity duties in India |
Which Discom Serves Your Area? Karnataka’s Five Power Companies
Unlike many other states with a single power distribution company, Karnataka has five regional discoms, all operating under the same KERC-approved tariff. Knowing which discom manages your area helps when you want to check your bill online or raise a complaint:
| Discom | Districts Covered | Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| BESCOM | Bengaluru, Tumkur, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, Kolar, Davanagere, Chitradurga | Same KERC order |
| MESCOM | Mangalore, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan | Same KERC order |
| HESCOM | Dharwad, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Gadag | Same KERC order |
| GESCOM | Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Bidar, Vijayapura, Raichur, Koppal | Same KERC order |
| CESC (Hubli) | Hubballi-Dharwad city corporation area | Same KERC order |
Real Worked Examples Using the BESCOM Bill Calculation Formula
Example 1: Monthly Usage 180 Units — Zero Bill (Gruha Jyothi)
A qualifying household consuming 180 units under Gruha Jyothi pays absolutely nothing:
| Billing Item | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|
| Energy Charge (180 units × ₹7.00) | ₹ 1,260.00 |
| Fuel Surcharge (180 units × ₹0.92) | ₹ 165.60 |
| Fixed Charge (1 kW × ₹115) | ₹ 115.00 |
| Electricity Duty (9%) | ₹ 135.05 |
| Gruha Jyothi Waiver | – ₹ 1,675.65 (Full Waiver) |
| Total Payable | ₹ 0.00 ✅ |
Example 2: Monthly Usage 350 Units — Standard Non-Gruha Jyothi Household (Connected Load 2 kW)
A regular household consuming 350 units with a 2 kW connected load pays the full flat rate:
| Billing Item | Details | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Charge | 350 units × ₹7.00 | ₹ 2,450.00 |
| Fuel Surcharge | 350 units × ₹0.92 | ₹ 322.00 |
| Fixed Charge | 2 kW × ₹115 | ₹ 230.00 |
| Electricity Duty (9%) | 9% × (₹2,450 + ₹322 + ₹230) | ₹ 270.18 |
| Total Payable | ≈ ₹ 3,272 | |
Karnataka Commercial and Industrial Tariff Summary
| Category | Base Rate / Unit | Fixed Charge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT-3 Commercial (Shops / Hotels) | ₹ 7.50 (Flat) | ₹ 240 / kW / month | No Gruha Jyothi; fuel surcharge also applies |
| LT-5 Industrial (Motive Power) | ₹ 5.40 (Flat) | ₹ 170 / HP / month | Subsidized for small-scale manufacturing |
| LT-6(c) EV Charging Stations | ₹ 4.50 (Flat) | ₹ 70 / kW / month | Subsidized rate to promote EV adoption |
5 Practical Ways to Reduce Your Electricity Bill in Karnataka
💡 Pro Tip: Eliminate Your Electricity Bills with Solar!
Instead of just reducing your appliance usage, installing a grid-connected rooftop solar system can completely wipe out your electricity bills. You can generate your own power and even sell the excess back to BESCOM/HESCOM/GESCOM/MESCOM. Use our new Karnataka Solar Bill Calculator to instantly estimate your installation cost, government subsidies, and monthly savings in seconds.
Because Karnataka now uses a flat ₹7.92 effective rate (base + fuel surcharge) for all units consumed, there is no benefit from staying within a lower slab — every unit costs the same. This makes outright consumption reduction the only effective strategy. Here are five approaches that work well in Karnataka’s diverse climate zones:
1. Keep Consumption Below 200 Units to Use Gruha Jyothi
If you are a qualifying household, staying within 200 units per month gives you a zero bill — saving you what would otherwise be a ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 monthly expense for moderate usage. Monitor your BESCOM smart meter every week. The cost of consuming unit 201 is not just ₹7.92 — it means the entire zero-bill benefit disappears and you pay for all 201 units at full rate.
2. Reduce Your Connected Load to Lower Fixed Charges
At ₹115 per kW per month, your connected load directly adds to your bill before a single unit is consumed. If you have unused heavy equipment (old water heaters, obsolete motors, redundant pumps) on your premises, request a load reduction from BESCOM. Dropping your connected load from 3 kW to 2 kW saves ₹115 every month — ₹1,380 per year — with no change in actual usage.
3. Install Solar with BESCOM Net Metering
Karnataka is one of India’s top solar-producing states, with Bengaluru receiving 5 to 6 peak sun hours per day. Under BESCOM’s net metering policy, every unit your rooftop panels export offsets your consumption. A 3 kW system in Bengaluru can generate 350 to 400 units per month, effectively eliminating your energy charges entirely for an average household.
4. Replace Conventional Geysers with Solar Water Heaters
In Bengaluru’s mild climate, a 100-litre solar water heater covers hot water needs for 3 to 4 family members without using a single unit of electricity on sunny days. At ₹7.92 per unit effective cost, a 2kW geyser running for 1 hour daily consumes about 60 units per month, costing approximately ₹475. A solar heater pays for itself in 2 to 3 years.
5. Switch Off Phantom Loads from Electronics
Modern TVs, set-top boxes, microwave ovens, and phone chargers all draw small amounts of power even in standby mode. A typical home has 8 to 12 such devices, collectively consuming 5 to 15 units of electricity per month. With Karnataka’s flat rate, this invisible consumption costs ₹40 to ₹120 per month. Using smart power strips or simply switching appliances off at the wall eliminates this wasted spend.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Gruha Jyothi Karnataka eligibility and how do I enroll?
The Gruha Jyothi Karnataka eligibility requires that you hold a valid ration card (white card / BPL / Anthyodaya), have an LT-1 domestic connection, and consume 200 units or less per month. Enrollment happens automatically via the state government’s portal using your Aadhaar-linked ration card. If you have already registered once, the subsidy continues automatically each month. You can check your Gruha Jyothi status through the sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in portal.
Why does my BESCOM bill show a fuel surcharge separately?
The BESCOM fuel surcharge rate is a variable levy that changes based on the cost of fuel used in power generation (coal, gas, etc.). For FY 2026-27, KERC has fixed the fuel surcharge at ₹0.92 per unit, which includes a ₹0.56 true-up amount to recover a past under-collection from FY 2024-25. This surcharge is charged in addition to the base ₹7.00 rate, making the effective per-unit cost ₹7.92. It is shown separately on your bill for regulatory transparency.
How do I check and pay my BESCOM bill online?
Visit the official BESCOM self-service portal (bescom.org) and enter your RR (Revenue Register) number to view your current bill, payment history, and outstanding dues. You can pay via BESCOM’s own mobile app, Google Pay, PhonePe, or through NetBanking by selecting BESCOM as the biller. For MESCOM, HESCOM, GESCOM, and CESC consumers, each discom has its own separate portal with the same process.
Is the Karnataka electricity duty 9% the highest in India?
The Karnataka electricity duty 9% is among the higher state-level duties in India. By comparison, Tamil Nadu charges no duty for domestic consumers, Kerala charges 10%, and Telangana charges 6%. The duty is applied on the combined sum of energy charges and fixed charges. On a ₹3,000 bill, this adds approximately ₹270, which is a meaningful additional cost.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This calculator is an independent tool built using publicly available KERC-approved tariff data for FY 2026-27. It is NOT an official BESCOM, MESCOM, HESCOM, GESCOM, or CESC calculator. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any Karnataka electricity distribution company or the Government of Karnataka.
For official billing queries, Gruha Jyothi status, and payments, please refer to the official portal:
Visit Official BESCOM Portal →
⚖️ Editorial & Data Verification Disclaimer
The tariff rates, slabs, and calculation presets used on this page are compiled and audited from the official tariff schedules released by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC). While we update our database regularly to reflect current active notifications, users are advised to verify their official bills on the official portal at KERC Website.