What the scheme gives you
Gruha Jyothi is one of the Karnataka government's guarantee schemes, started in 2023. Registered domestic consumers get free electricity up to an entitled number of units every month. The entitlement is based on the household's own past average consumption plus a margin, and it can never be more than 200 units.
Who is eligible
- Domestic (residential) connections. Commercial, industrial and other categories are not covered.
- One meter per household, registered in the name of the consumer or the tenant who lives there.
- Registration through the Seva Sindhu portal, Karnataka One, Grama One or Bangalore One centres, with the account ID / RR number from the bill and Aadhaar.
- Monthly consumption within 200 units. Above that, the scheme does not apply for that month.
- ?Is the connection domestic and registered for Gruha Jyothi?Yes Go to the next checkNo Normal tariff bill
- ?Did you use more than 200 units this month?Yes Full bill for all unitsNo Go to the next check
- ?Are units used within your entitled units?Yes Zero billNo Pay only for the units above your entitlement
- ✓Check the bill
Your bill shows entitled units, units consumed and any amount payable.
How to register, step by step
Registration is free and takes about ten minutes if you have the right papers in hand. You can do it yourself on the Seva Sindhu portal, or at a Grama One, Karnataka One or Bangalore One centre, where the operator fills it in for you.
- Take the latest bill. You need the account ID (some forms call it the connection or customer ID) and the name of your ESCOM. The difference between the account ID and the RR number is explained in our bill payment guide.
- Keep your Aadhaar and the mobile number linked to it. The application is verified with an OTP sent to that number. If the Aadhaar mobile number is old, update it first, or the application stalls.
- Choose owner or tenant. Tenants give the rental agreement or another proof that they live at the address.
- Read the declaration. You confirm that the connection is used for the home only and that you are not registering a second meter in your name.
- Submit and save the acknowledgement. A screenshot or PDF of the acknowledgement number is what you show at the subdivision if the scheme does not appear on the bill.
Free units are not backdated to the months before your registration was accepted. If you have just moved into a new house or a rented portion, register as soon as you have the new account ID. The extra steps for new meters, tenants and shifting are in our guide to Gruha Jyothi for new connections and tenants.
How your entitled units are worked out
At launch, the entitlement was your average monthly consumption in the baseline year (2022-23) plus 10%, capped at 200 units. So a family that averaged 100 units a month is entitled to about 110 units free. The government has since adjusted the margin rules for some consumers. Whatever the current rule, your bill shows the entitled units that apply to you. That figure is what counts.
| Average monthly use | Entitled (avg + 10%) | Use this month | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 units | 88 units | 85 units | Zero bill |
| 120 units | 132 units | 150 units | Pay for 18 units |
| 170 units | 187 units | 195 units | Pay for 8 units |
| 170 units | 187 units | 210 units | Full bill: above 200 |
The estimate uses the launch rule of average + 10%, capped at 200 units. Your bill shows the entitlement your ESCOM actually applies, so enter that figure for an exact check.
Why you may still get a bill
- You used more than your entitlement. Summer ACs, coolers, a new fridge or guests push usage above the limit.
- You crossed 200 units. The whole month is billed at the normal tariff.
- Registration not linked. The account ID on the application does not match the meter, or the registration was not completed.
- Two households on one meter. A single meter can carry only one registration.
- Old arrears. Dues from before the scheme are still payable.
- Meter reading problem. An estimated or wrong reading can show excess units. Check the reading on the meter against the bill.
Reading the Gruha Jyothi part of your bill
The bill of a registered home looks like a normal bill with a few extra lines. The labels differ a little between BESCOM, MESCOM, CESC, HESCOM and GESCOM bills, but the logic is the same:
| What the bill shows | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Units consumed | Present reading minus previous reading | Compare with the kWh on your meter today |
| Entitled / eligible units | Your free limit for the month | Should stay the same month to month unless the rule changes |
| Bill amount (gross) | The full bill worked out at the normal tariff | Useful to know what you would pay without the scheme |
| Gruha Jyothi / GJ subsidy | The share paid by the government | Should equal the gross amount when you are within the limit |
| Net amount payable | What you actually pay | Zero, or a small amount for the units above your limit |
If the subsidy line is missing altogether, the registration is not linked to this account. If the subsidy line is there but the net amount is large, look at the units: you have either crossed your entitlement or crossed 200. A credit shown as a negative figure is usually the yearly interest on your security deposit, which our security deposit guide explains. You do not have to pay a negative amount. For every other line on the bill, see our tariff and bill calculator.
The 200-unit cliff, worked out in rupees
The rule that hurts most is the 200-unit line. Up to 200, you pay only for the units above your entitlement. Above 200, you lose the scheme for that month and pay for every unit. Here is what that looks like for a home with a 3 kW sanctioned load, using the 2026-27 domestic rates: ₹5.80 a unit, ₹150 per kW fixed charge, 35 paise surcharge and 9% tax, and no fuel adjustment.
| Entitled units | Units used | What happens | Roughly what you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 187 | 185 | Within entitlement | Nothing |
| 187 | 199 | 12 units above entitlement | A small amount for the 12 units |
| 187 | 210 | Above 200: whole month billed | About ₹1,890 (₹1,218 energy, ₹450 fixed, ₹74 surcharge, ₹150 tax) |
Eleven extra units can turn a near-zero bill into one of about ₹1,900. That is why it pays to watch the meter in the last week of the billing cycle in April and May, when ACs and coolers run hardest. If you are close to 200, a few days of shorter AC hours or switching the geyser off is enough to stay under. Our appliance units guide shows which loads use the most.
A missed reading followed by an actual reading can put two months of units into one bill and push it over 200. If that happens, ask the subdivision in writing to revise the bill over the correct period. Our high bill complaint guide has the steps and a sample letter.
New houses, tenants and shifting
New connections do not have a past average. For them, an average set by the government is used until the household's own consumption history builds up. Tenants can register in their own name using the rental agreement, which is why a separate meter for each rented portion matters. If you shift house, the registration has to be delinked from the old account and done again at the new one.
Plan a separate meter and meter board space for each portion right from the wiring stage. It keeps each tenant's Gruha Jyothi and billing independent. See our house construction electrical guide.
When something goes wrong: common problems and fixes
- Applied, but the bill still has no Gruha Jyothi line. Check the application status on Seva Sindhu with the acknowledgement number. If it shows approved but the bill does not, take the acknowledgement and the bill to the subdivision. The usual cause is a wrong account ID or ESCOM chosen in the form.
- "Already registered" error. Either your Aadhaar is still linked to an old house, or a previous occupant's Aadhaar is linked to this meter. The old registration has to be delinked first, which can be done online.
- Entitlement looks too low. A low figure usually means the meter's past use was low, for example the house was empty for part of the baseline year, or a new connection is on the state average. Ask at the subdivision how your figure was worked out.
- Bill jumped after a meter change. A new meter that reads correctly can show more units than an old one that was running slow. Check the reading yourself with our meter guide before you complain.
- Benefit stopped after the 2026 verification. If the house was locked when the meter reader came, or your declaration was not recorded, contact the subdivision with your Aadhaar, the bill and proof that you live there.
- A shop or office is running from the house meter. Gruha Jyothi is for domestic use only, and a shop on a domestic meter can be back-billed at a higher rate. See our guide to a commercial connection for a shop.
Stay within your free units
- Replace old tube lights and CFLs with LED. It is the cheapest saving.
- Use a 5-star rated fridge and inverter AC, and set the AC to 24–26 °C.
- Switch geysers off after use or fit a timer.
- Get leakage checked if the bill is high even when you are careful. A faulty appliance or poor wiring can leak current to earth.
- Read your meter on the same date each week to see where the units go.
Government schemes and ESCOM rules are revised from time to time. This article explains how things work in practice. Before you act, confirm the current rule on the Seva Sindhu portal, your ESCOM website, your subdivision office or the helpline 1912.
Questions
Is Gruha Jyothi available for commercial shops?
No. It covers domestic residential connections only.
What happens if I use more than 200 units?
The scheme does not apply for that month, and the entire consumption is billed at the normal domestic tariff.
Can a tenant get Gruha Jyothi?
Yes. A tenant can register for the meter of the premises they live in, using the rental agreement, as long as that meter is not already registered by someone else.
How do I know my entitled units?
Your monthly bill shows the entitled units along with the units consumed. You can also check your application status on the Seva Sindhu portal.
My bill is high after registering. What should I do?
Check that the registration is linked to the correct account ID, compare the meter reading with the bill, and contact the subdivision of your ESCOM (BESCOM, MESCOM, CESC, HESCOM or GESCOM) or call 1912 if something does not match.
Do I get free units for the months before I registered?
No. The benefit applies from the billing month after your registration is accepted and linked to the account. Bills for earlier months are payable at the normal tariff.
Can I register two houses for Gruha Jyothi?
No. One Aadhaar can be linked to only one registration. If you own a second house, it is billed at the normal tariff, or a tenant living there can register for its meter.
Why does my zero bill show a negative amount?
A negative figure is usually the yearly interest on your security deposit credited to your account. You do not pay it; it is adjusted once the bill is no longer zero.
Need this done for you?
We handle the electrical work and the ESCOM, KPTCL and CEIG liaisoning anywhere in Karnataka, with BESCOM, MESCOM, CESC, HESCOM and GESCOM. Email basavalalith.electricals@gmail.com or use the enquiry form.
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