High Electricity Bill Complaint Karnataka: CGRF & Ombudsman

Before you complain: 15 minutes of checking

Most "wrong bills" are one of a few things. Check them first so your complaint is specific. For the bill line by line, see our tariff and bill calculator. For reading the meter itself, see the meter guide.

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Compare the present reading on the bill with the kWh on the meter today. A reading higher than what the meter shows is a clear billing error.
Look at the reading status. Door-lock, meter-not-recording or average/estimated billing means the units are not real readings.
Check the billing period. A 45-day bill after a missed reading will look high but may be correct.
Check for arrears, ASD or back-billing lines. These are not this month's consumption. See our ASD notice guide.
Check the Gruha Jyothi line. Crossing your entitled units, or crossing 200, changes the bill a lot.
Do the night test: switch off every MCB, and the meter pulse LED should stop. If it keeps blinking, there may be leakage or a wrong connection.
Think about new loads: an AC, a new geyser, a borewell pump, guests, summer.

15clear days' notice before disconnection, Sec 56

30days to appeal a CGRF order to the Ombudsman

2years: old dues not shown as arrears are time-barred

1912helpline, all ESCOMs

Step 1: written complaint at the subdivision

Go to the AEE / AE of your O&M subdivision (the office that issues your bill), or call 1912 and get a docket number first. Take:

the disputed bill and two or three earlier bills;
a dated photo of the meter display showing the kWh reading and the meter serial number;
a one-page letter: account ID, RR number, what is wrong ("billed 640 units, meter shows only 410 units since last reading"), and what you want (bill revision, meter test, or both).

Get the letter stamped with an inward number or a docket number. Without this, the higher forums have nothing to work from.

Don't let the supply get cut while you argue

Section 56 of the Electricity Act, 2003 needs at least 15 clear days' written notice before disconnection for non-payment. Under the same section, supply is not to be cut if you pay under protest either the disputed amount or your average monthly charge over the previous six months, whichever is less. Write "paid under protest" on your letter and keep the receipt. Pay the undisputed part in full.

Step 2: ask for a meter test

If the reading itself looks fine but the units are far above what your loads can use, ask in writing for a meter accuracy test.

Who tests: the ESCOM's meter testing (MT) staff, either on site with a reference meter or by removing the meter to the MT lab. Ask to be present and to get a signed copy of the test report.
Fee: a testing fee applies, as per the ESCOM's schedule of charges approved by KERC. We could not confirm the current amount for each ESCOM, so ask at the counter and get a receipt. Consumer guides say the fee is refunded if the meter is found faulty.
Time limit: the central Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 say testing should be done within the time set by the state commission, not more than 30 days from the complaint.
If you dispute the result: the same rules give the consumer the option of testing at a third-party lab from the list approved by the commission. If the lab result goes against the ESCOM's result, the ESCOM bears the cost.
If the meter is found fast or faulty: the ESCOM replaces it and revises past bills according to the KERC Conditions of Supply. Ask how many months will be revised and on what basis.

Before you ask for a test

Rule out leakage in your own wiring. A meter that is accurate but recording an earth leakage from a damp junction box or a faulty geyser will "pass" the test, and you will have lost the fee and time. An electrician with a clamp meter can find this in an hour. Our earthing and testing checklist shows what is checked.

The complaint ladder at a glance

From subdivision to Ombudsman

1Complaint at the O&M subdivision or 1912
Get a docket or inward number. Most billing errors end here.
?Resolved within the time limit?
Yes Check the revised bill and stopNo Go to the CGRF
3Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF)
Of your own ESCOM, at district level. Written complaint with the docket number and copies.
?Happy with the CGRF order?
Yes ESCOM must complyNo Appeal to the Ombudsman within 30 days
✓Electricity Ombudsman, KERC
Settlement attempt first, then a hearing and an order.

Step 3: the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF)

Every ESCOM (BESCOM, MESCOM, CESC Mysuru, HESCOM and GESCOM) must have Consumer Grievance Redressal Forums under the KERC (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and Ombudsman) Regulations. They work at district level, usually at the Superintending Engineer's O&M Circle office. BESCOM, for example, has forums for Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Davanagere and Chitradurga.

When: after the subdivision has not resolved your complaint in time, or you are not happy with its reply.
How: a written complaint on the forum's form or on plain paper, by post, email or in person. Give your account ID, the docket or inward number of the first complaint, copies of bills, photos and the meter test report.
Time: the national rules expect a CGRF to decide within 30 to 45 days.
Recent changes: in January 2025 KERC published a draft amendment to add a corporate-level CGRF at each ESCOM's head office, as a second tier above the district forums. In May 2025 BESCOM announced a digital portal for filing and tracking CGRF complaints online. Check with your ESCOM whether these are now running.

Step 4: the Electricity Ombudsman

If the CGRF does not decide in time, or you disagree with its order, you can go to the Electricity Ombudsman appointed by KERC.

Time limit: within 30 days of the CGRF order (or of the date by which it should have decided).
What to send: a representation with your details, the CGRF order, the original complaint, bills and test reports, and what relief you want.
Process: the Ombudsman first tries to settle the matter by agreement, then holds a hearing and passes an order.
Where: the Ombudsman sits in Bengaluru. The address reported on consumer sites is No. 16, C-1, Miller Tank Bed Area, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru 560052. Confirm the current address and procedure in the Ombudsman section of kerc.karnataka.gov.in before you post anything.

You do not need a lawyer at any stage. A clear timeline and copies of every document are more useful than long arguments.

What usually wins a billing dispute

Dated meter photos taken on the same day each month.
A consumption history: 12 months of units from old bills, in a simple table.
A load list: what you actually have running. Our appliance units guide helps.
The two-year rule: under Section 56(2) of the Electricity Act, a sum cannot be recovered after two years from when it first became due unless it was shown continuously as arrears. Mention this if you get a sudden "back-billing" for very old periods.
Polite persistence. A written follow-up every two weeks, quoting the docket number.

A simple complaint letter

To the Assistant Executive Engineer, O&M Sub-division (name), your ESCOM. Subject: Excess billing, Account ID (number), RR No. (number). I have received a bill dated (date) for (units) units, against my usual (units) units. The meter today, (date), shows (reading) kWh, while the bill shows a present reading of (reading). Photos and my last six bills are attached. I request you to verify the reading, revise the bill, and test the meter if needed. I am paying (amount) under protest under Section 56 of the Electricity Act, 2003, pending your decision. Name, address, phone, signature.

Keep it to one page, attach copies (never originals), and keep the stamped office copy with your bills. If the reply comes as a revised bill, check that the revised units and the reading are both right before you pay.

Check the official source

Fees, forms and time limits are set by KERC regulations and each ESCOM's schedule of charges. Before you file, check the CGRF and Ombudsman section on kerc.karnataka.gov.in and the consumer pages of your ESCOM website, or ask the AEE of your subdivision. For urgent help call 1912.

Special cases: meter change, missed readings and back-billing

Some high bills follow a pattern. If yours fits one of these, say so in your complaint, because each has its own fix.

Bill after a meter replacement. The bill should use the old meter's final reading up to the change and the new meter's reading from its starting figure. Ask for the meter change record, which shows both. A common error is billing the new meter from zero when it was installed with a starting reading, or the reverse.
Door-lock or estimated months, then an actual reading. The units of several months land in one bill. The total may be correct, but for a Gruha Jyothi home it can cross 200 in that one month. Ask in writing for the units to be spread over the months they belong to. See the 200-unit rule in our Gruha Jyothi guide.
Back-billing after an inspection. If an inspection finds a shop or office on a domestic meter, the bill is reassessed under the correct tariff, often for months at a time. That is a different procedure from an ordinary billing complaint. Our guide to a commercial connection for a shop explains how it is calculated.
A complaint that goes nowhere. KERC's standards set time limits for resolving bill complaints. If the subdivision does not reply in time, you may also be able to claim compensation. See ESCOM delay compensation.

Once the revised bill comes, pay it on time through the official channels in our bill payment guide, and keep the receipt with your complaint papers.

Questions

Where do I complain about a high electricity bill in Karnataka?

Start with a written complaint at your ESCOM's O&M subdivision office or by calling 1912 for a docket number. If it is not resolved, go to the ESCOM's Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and then to the KERC Electricity Ombudsman.

Can I ask BESCOM or HESCOM to test my meter?

Yes. Apply in writing at the subdivision and pay the testing fee. Ask to be present for the test and to get a signed copy of the report. If the meter is faulty, it is replaced and past bills are revised.

Can my power be cut while my bill complaint is pending?

Disconnection for non-payment needs at least 15 clear days' written notice. If you pay under protest the disputed amount or your six-month average monthly charge, whichever is less, supply should not be cut for that bill.

How long does the CGRF take to decide a complaint?

The national consumer rights rules expect a decision within 30 to 45 days. If the forum does not decide in time, you can approach the Ombudsman.

What is the time limit to appeal to the Electricity Ombudsman in Karnataka?

Within 30 days of the CGRF order, or of the date by which the forum should have decided.

Is there a fee to approach the CGRF or Ombudsman?

Consumer guides describe these forums as free for consumers. Confirm the current procedure on the KERC website before filing.

Sources

Rules and figures in this article were checked against these sources on 30 Sep 2026. Schemes and tariffs change, so confirm with the official office before you act.

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Written by the Basavalalith Electricals engineering teamLicensed electrical contractors working on ESCOM, KPTCL and CEIG projects across Karnataka, from Bengaluru and Mysuru to Mangaluru, Hubballi and Kalaburagi.

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