Karnataka Electricity Bill: Check, Pay and Download Guide
Your Karnataka electricity bill comes from one of five government power distribution companies (ESCOMs), depending on your district: BESCOM, MESCOM, CESC, HESCOM or GESCOM. You can check it, pay it and download a PDF copy on your ESCOM's website or app using the Account ID printed on the bill. For FY 2026-27, a domestic home pays a flat energy charge of Rs 5.80 per unit, a fixed charge of Rs 150 per kW of sanctioned load every month, and a pension and gratuity surcharge of 35 paise per unit, before electricity tax and fuel adjustment. If you are enrolled in Gruha Jyothi and stay within your free-unit entitlement, your bill can be zero.
Karnataka electricity bill at a glance
What you need | Where to find it | Note |
|---|---|---|
Your ESCOM | Top of the bill (logo and name) | Decided by district, not by choice |
Account ID | "Account ID" field on the bill | Used for online payment and PDF download |
RR number | Printed near the Account ID | Older meter reference; some services still ask for it |
Energy charge (domestic) | Bill line "Energy Charges" | Rs 5.80/unit in FY 2026-27 (verify at publish) |
Fixed charge | Bill line "Fixed Charges" | Rs 150 per kW per month in FY 2026-27 (verify at publish) |
Free units | Gruha Jyothi line | Based on your FY 2022-23 average |
Helpline | 1912 | Common number across Karnataka ESCOMs |
Which ESCOM sends your Karnataka electricity bill?
The single most common mistake on Karnataka billing pages is assuming everything is "BESCOM". BESCOM covers only Bengaluru and seven surrounding districts. If you live in Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi or Kalaburagi, you are on a different portal with a different app.
ESCOM | Districts served | Official website |
|---|---|---|
BESCOM | Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru South (formerly Ramanagara), Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davanagere | bescom.karnataka.gov.in |
MESCOM | Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru | mescom.karnataka.gov.in |
CESC | Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar | cescmysore.karnataka.gov.in |
HESCOM | Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Uttara Kannada, Vijayapura, Bagalkot | hescom.karnataka.gov.in |
GESCOM | Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Yadgir, Vijayanagara | gescom.karnataka.gov.in |
ESCOM web addresses moved to the karnataka.gov.in domain in recent years and old links still circulate. Confirm the address before entering payment details.
How to check your Karnataka electricity bill online
- Open your ESCOM website or its official app (BESCOM's is called BESCOM Mithra).
- Choose "View Bill", "Quick Pay" or "Track Online" and enter your Account ID.
- The current bill shows units consumed, the bill amount and the due date.
- For the full bill with every charge itemised, log in and open billing history.
If you cannot find your Account ID, the Karnataka electricity bill PDF download guide explains how to recover it from an old bill, a payment app history or your sub-division office.
How to pay, and how to prove you paid
You can pay on the ESCOM website, the ESCOM app, any UPI app that lists your ESCOM under "Electricity", Karnataka One/Bangalore One centres or the cash counter at your sub-division. Payments made through third-party apps usually take a day or two to reflect in ESCOM records.
A payment receipt and a bill are different documents. The bill is what you owe; the receipt proves you paid it. Landlords, HRA claims and disputes need the receipt, and a UPI screenshot is weaker than the ESCOM-issued receipt. Our bill payment receipt guide covers where each type of receipt lives.
How the bill is calculated (FY 2026-27)
KERC's multi-year tariff order of 27 March 2025 fixed domestic rates for FY 2025-26 to FY 2027-28. Energy charges fell slightly, but fixed charges rose each year.
Bill component | FY 2025-26 | FY 2026-27 (current) | FY 2027-28 |
|---|---|---|---|
Domestic energy charge | Rs 5.80/unit | Rs 5.80/unit | Rs 5.75/unit |
Fixed charge per kW per month | Rs 145 | Rs 150 | Rs 160 |
Pension and gratuity surcharge | 36 paise/unit | 35 paise/unit | 34 paise/unit |
Source: KERC Combined Tariff Order, 27 March 2025, as reported by Deccan Herald and PTI. Verify at publish, especially if KERC issues an annual true-up.
Worked example: a 2 kW home using 200 units in a month, outside Gruha Jyothi:
- Energy: 200 × Rs 5.80 = Rs 1,160
- Surcharge: 200 × Rs 0.35 = Rs 70
- Fixed: 2 × Rs 150 = Rs 300
- Subtotal before electricity tax and FPPCA: Rs 1,530, or Rs 7.65 per unit
That last number is why "Rs 5.80 per unit" understates what you actually pay. Our one unit electricity cost in Karnataka page shows the effective rate at every usage level.
A warning on old slab tables: many calculators still show Karnataka's pre-2023 slab rates (Rs 3.30, Rs 5.45, Rs 7.10 and so on). Domestic billing in Karnataka now uses a flat energy rate, so any calculator showing four or five slabs for a domestic home is out of date.
Gruha Jyothi: when your bill should be zero
Gruha Jyothi gives eligible domestic connections free electricity up to 200 units a month. Your entitlement is not 200 units for everyone. It is your average monthly consumption in FY 2022-23 plus a buffer, capped at 200.
- Use less than your entitlement: bill is zero, including fixed charges.
- Use more than your entitlement but 200 units or less: you pay only for the extra units.
- Cross 200 units in a month: the full bill applies for that month.
Sources disagree on the buffer for very low users. Older explainers say 10 percent for everyone; later reporting says households averaging 90 units or less get a flat 10 extra units instead. The Karnataka government confirmed by a Government Order dated 30 June 2026 that the scheme continues . Your exact entitlement is printed on your bill.
The confusing lines on a Karnataka bill
Bill line | Plain meaning | Read more |
|---|---|---|
Recorded MD / MD penalty | Your peak load crossed the sanctioned load | |
ASD | Additional security deposit, a refundable top-up | |
FPPCA | Monthly fuel and power purchase cost adjustment | Changes month to month |
ET | Electricity tax levied by the state | Read the rate printed on your bill |
Sanctioned load | Maximum kW you are allowed to draw | Drives your fixed charge |
You will also see search terms like KNO number, CA number and ABC code. None of these is a Karnataka bill field. They come from other states' bills, and the KNO number, CA number and ABC code guides map each one to its Karnataka equivalent.
Honest pros and cons of Karnataka's billing system
What works: a flat domestic energy rate is easy to calculate; Gruha Jyothi makes most small homes' bills zero; every ESCOM offers online payment and PDF bills.
What frustrates consumers: fixed charges are rising every year, so low-usage homes pay a higher effective rate; the MD penalty hits older homes with low sanctioned loads (BESCOM alone collected close to Rs 850 crore in excess-load penalties over two years, per Deccan Herald); five separate portals confuse people who move districts; and the ASD notice often arrives without a clear explanation.
Who should act on their bill, and how
Your situation | Fit for action | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Bill shows an MD penalty every summer | Strong fit | Compare penalty cost with load enhancement cost |
Usage hovers near your Gruha Jyothi entitlement | Strong fit | Track monthly units; one heavy month costs you the full bill above 200 |
Usage 300+ units, roof available | Marginal to strong fit | Rooftop solar earns a Rs 25/kW fixed-charge rebate up to 10 kW |
Usage well under entitlement | Not a fit | Nothing to change; keep paying zero |
If outages are your bigger problem than the bill, an inverter and battery sized for your load helps with continuity, but it does not cut your units or your MD penalty. Rooftop solar is what reduces grid draw.
FAQs
How can I check my Karnataka electricity bill online?
Open your ESCOM's website or app, select View Bill or Quick Pay, and enter the Account ID from your bill. BESCOM consumers can also use the BESCOM Mithra app. The full itemised bill is available after logging in.
Which ESCOM covers my area in Karnataka?
BESCOM covers Bengaluru and seven nearby districts, MESCOM the coastal and Malnad districts, CESC the Mysuru region, HESCOM north-west Karnataka and GESCOM the Kalyana Karnataka districts. Your ESCOM name is printed at the top of your bill.
What is the current domestic electricity rate in Karnataka?
For FY 2026-27, the domestic energy charge is Rs 5.80 per unit, with a fixed charge of Rs 150 per kW per month and a 35 paise per unit pension and gratuity surcharge. Tax and fuel adjustment are added on top. Verify at publish.
Why is my Karnataka electricity bill high even with low usage?
Fixed charges are billed on sanctioned load whether you use power or not, and an MD penalty applies if your peak load crosses your sanctioned load. A 2 kW home pays Rs 300 in fixed charges before using a single unit.
Is my Karnataka electricity bill zero under Gruha Jyothi?
Only if your monthly units stay within your entitlement, which is based on your FY 2022-23 average plus a buffer, capped at 200 units. Above the entitlement you pay for extra units; above 200 units the full bill applies.
How do I download my Karnataka electricity bill as a PDF?
Log in to your ESCOM portal or app, open billing history, choose the month and download the PDF. Bills older than the portal shows can be requested at your sub-division office.
What is the electricity helpline number in Karnataka?
The common ESCOM helpline is 1912. Each ESCOM also lists local sub-division numbers on its website.
Can I pay my electricity bill after the due date?
Yes, but ESCOMs add interest on delayed payment and can disconnect supply after the notice period. Pay before the disconnection date printed on the bill to avoid reconnection charges.
Conclusion
Your Karnataka electricity bill is easier to control once you know which ESCOM issues it, which three charges drive it (energy, fixed and surcharge) and which lines signal a problem. Start with your Account ID and your sanctioned load, then use the supporting guides below for the specific line that is costing you money.
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