BESCOM Electricity Tariff Slabs 2026: KERC Bangalore Rates & Gruha Jyothi Guide
For residents of Bangalore and the surrounding districts serviced by the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM), understanding your monthly electricity bill has become increasingly complicated.
⚡ Calculate Your Exact BESCOM Bill & Gruha Jyothi Subsidy
Use our verified KERC calculator engine for instant itemized breakdowns based on official Bangalore electricity tariff orders and Gruha Jyothi scheme math.
Open BESCOM Calculator →Governed by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC), residential electricity billing in the state follows a strict slab model combined with fixed connection charges, variable fuel surcharges (FPPCA), and a 9% state tax. However, the introduction of the Karnataka Government's flagship Gruha Jyothi Scheme has fundamentally altered how millions of consumers are billed.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the exact 2026 BESCOM tariff structure, explain how to calculate your baseline costs, and demystify the complex mathematics behind the Gruha Jyothi free electricity entitlement.
The Core KERC LT-2(a) Domestic Tariff Slabs
For standard domestic consumers living in city municipal corporation areas (like BBMP in Bangalore), electricity is billed under the LT-2(a) tariff category.
Historically, Karnataka had a highly fragmented slab system (0-50 units, 51-100 units, etc.). To simplify billing, KERC recently restructured this into a much leaner two-slab system. As of the current tariff order, your base energy charges are calculated as follows:
| Slab Tier | Base Energy Rate | Fixed Monthly Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Slab 1 (0 to 100 Units) | ₹4.75 / kWh | ₹110 / kW / Month |
| Slab 2 (Above 100 Units) | ₹7.00 / kWh | ₹110 / kW / Month |
How to Calculate the Energy Charge
Because BESCOM uses a telescopic billing method, your units are billed progressively. If your household consumes 140 units in a billing cycle, you do not multiply all 140 units by the higher ₹7.00 rate.
Instead, the calculation is split:
- The First 100 Units: (100 units × ₹4.75 = ₹475.00)
- The Remaining 40 Units: (40 units × ₹7.00 = ₹280.00)
Fixed Charges and Taxes
The base energy charge is only the first component of a BESCOM statement. To arrive at the final payable amount, three additional mandatory line items are applied:
1. Sanctioned Load Fixed Charge
Regardless of whether you lock your house and consume zero units for a month, you must pay a fixed demand charge to maintain local grid infrastructure.
For LT-2(a) consumers, this is calculated per Kilowatt (kW) of sanctioned load at ₹110 per kW per month. If your home has a standard 3 kW sanctioned load, your baseline fixed charge will be ₹330 every single month.
2. Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment (FPPCA)
Power generation costs fluctuate based on raw material prices like coal. KERC allows BESCOM to recover these fluctuating costs through the FPPCA.
This is a variable per-unit surcharge (e.g. ₹0.37 per kWh) that changes periodically. If you consume 140 units, the FPPCA adds roughly ₹51.80 to your bill.
3. Karnataka State Electricity Tax
The Government of Karnataka levies a strict 9% Electricity Tax on domestic consumption. This percentage is applied to your Total Energy Charges before government subsidies are deducted.
Decoding the Gruha Jyothi Scheme
The most significant factor in modern BESCOM billing is the Gruha Jyothi Scheme, which promises "free electricity up to 200 units" for eligible domestic consumers.
However, a massive misconception exists among Bangalore residents: consuming under 200 units does not automatically mean your bill will be zero. The scheme is governed by a strict "Historical Entitlement" mathematical formula.
The 12-Month Average Rule
When you enroll in Gruha Jyothi, BESCOM calculates your specific monthly entitlement limit based on your past usage:
- They take your average monthly consumption over the previous financial year.
- They add a 10% buffer to that average.
- The absolute ceiling is capped at 200 units.
Scenario A (Within Entitlement):
If your 12-month historical average is 90 units, your entitlement limit = 90 + 10% = 99 units. If you consume 95 units this month, you are strictly under your 99-unit limit.
Result: The government subsidizes your entire Energy Charge and Fixed Charge. Your payable bill is ₹0.
Scenario B (Exceeding Entitlement, but under 200):
If your entitlement limit is 99 units, but you buy a new AC and consume 150 units this month, you must pay for the extra units consumed (150 - 99 = 51 units) at standard slab rates plus proportional fixed charges and tax.
Result: You will receive a non-zero bill, even though your total usage (150 units) remained under the absolute 200-unit ceiling.
Scenario C (Exceeding 200 Units):
If your total consumption hits 201 units or higher in a single billing cycle, the Gruha Jyothi subsidy is entirely voided for that month. You will be billed for all 201 units at standard KERC rates, plus full fixed charges and taxes.
How to Audit Your BESCOM Bill
Manually calculating KERC slabs, 9% taxes, FPPCA variations, and Gruha Jyothi entitlement math is incredibly prone to error. If you suspect your BESCOM bill is abnormally high, do not rely on generic estimates.
Use the BijliWise BESCOM Electricity Bill Calculator. By inputting your exact unit consumption, sanctioned load, and Gruha Jyothi entitlement status, our deterministic engine will generate a verified, item-by-item breakdown of your true monthly costs.