Who gives the connection and how long it should take
Your permanent meter comes from the ESCOM that serves your area: BESCOM, MESCOM, CESC Mysuru, HESCOM or GESCOM. All five follow the same KERC regulations, so the documents and charges below apply across Karnataka. Local practice at the subdivision differs a little, and we point that out where it matters.
The time limits are short now. The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2024 asked state commissions to set a maximum of 3 days in metropolitan areas, 7 days in other municipal areas and 15 days in rural areas, counted from a complete application, where no new line is needed. KERC's 2022 consumer rights regulations, as reported, adopted the same 3 / 7 / 15 day limits. If a pole, a line extension or a new transformer is needed, the time is longer: KERC's August 2026 draft supply regulations propose up to 90 days where the service line has to be extended.
The document file
The ESCOM checks two things: that you have the right to the premises, and that the building is allowed to be occupied. Keep self-attested copies plus the originals for the site visit.
The usual problem is names that don't match. The sale deed is in the father's name, the khata in the son's, and the application in the daughter-in-law's. Make the applicant the person whose name is on the property record. If that is not possible, the regulations allow an occupier to apply with proof of occupancy and an indemnity bond, but expect more questions.
Do you need an occupancy certificate?
After the Supreme Court's ruling on building violations, KERC told ESCOMs to ask for completion and occupancy certificates before giving permanent supply to buildings that need them. Since then the state has given relief in steps:
- Small houses exempt. In September 2025 the government exempted residential buildings on plots of up to 1,200 sq ft, with an approved plan and no more than ground + 2 floors or stilt + 3, from needing an OC, and also from the commencement certificate (CC). This was first notified for Greater Bengaluru under the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, and similar notifications were reported for municipalities and city corporations.
- One-time exemption for bigger plots. A later order, as reported in June 2026, allowed houses on plots of up to 2,400 sq ft (ground + 3 or stilt + 4, up to about 20% deviation) completed before 31 May 2026 to get permanent supply without an OC, after field verification.
We cover the exemption conditions and what to do if you don't qualify in electricity connection without an OC. The short version: check which rule your building falls under before you apply, and attach the papers that rule asks for. An application that just leaves the OC blank gets returned.
The wiring test report: what the contractor must do
The ESCOM only brings power to the meter. Everything after the meter is your licensed contractor's responsibility, and his test report is what the section officer relies on. Before he signs it, he should have:
- Measured insulation resistance of each circuit with a megger, and noted the values.
- Tested the earth electrodes and written down the earth resistance. See our earthing and pre-inspection checklist.
- Fitted an RCCB (30 mA for socket and bathroom circuits) and correctly rated MCBs in the distribution board.
- Built the meter board to the ESCOM's height and space norms, at the entrance, reachable for reading. Leave room for a smart meter and for any future second meter.
- Run a service main cable of the right size from the meter point to the DB.
The test report must match the load you apply for. If you ask for 3 kW on the form but the report lists two ACs, a geyser and an induction hob, the inspecting engineer will assess a higher load, and your deposit goes up with it. Our house construction electrical guide covers the wiring stages.
Applying online, step by step
- 1Apply online or at the subdivision
Use the new-connection service on your ESCOM's website (BESCOM's is on bescom.co.in), or file at the O&M section / subdivision office. Upload the documents and test report.
- 2Pay the registration fee
You get an application number. Keep it; every follow-up and every complaint uses it.
- 3Site inspection
The section engineer checks the building, the meter board, earthing and the nearest pole, and assesses the load.
- ?Does the supply need a new pole, line or transformer?Yes Estimate issued; work by ESCOM or self-execution; longer time limitNo Demand note for deposits and meter
- 5Pay the demand note and sign the agreement
- ✓Meter fixed, service connected, RR / account number issued
Ask for the temporary account to be closed on the same visit as the permanent meter is fixed, and get the balance of the advance adjusted or refunded. Do not let both run in parallel for months. See temporary connection for construction.
What you pay
A permanent domestic connection has four kinds of charge. The exact numbers are in the demand note the ESCOM issues after inspection.
| Charge | How it is worked out | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Registration / processing fee | Fixed per application, by category | Small |
| Initial security deposit (ISD) | About two months' estimated bill for the sanctioned load | BESCOM's April 2024 ready reckoner showed ₹2,310 for 3 kW and ₹3,860 for 5 kW in urban areas. These figures were worked out at 2024 tariffs, so expect them to change after each tariff revision |
| Meter | Smart meter for new connections in BESCOM areas since 2025 | ₹4,998 single-phase / ₹8,880 three-phase were the quoted prices; the cost and the mandate were challenged in the High Court in 2025 (see below) |
| Service line / infrastructure | Per KERC's recovery-of-expenditure rules, by load slab and distance from the pole | Little or nothing for a small load near an existing pole. Can be large if a pole or line extension is needed |
Smart meters: BESCOM made smart meters mandatory for new and temporary connections in urban areas from 15 February 2025 and in rural areas from 1 July 2025. In April 2025 the Karnataka High Court passed an interim order stopping BESCOM from making them compulsory for permanent connections, and BESCOM told the court the meters were for new and temporary connections only. Ask your subdivision what applies today and what the meter will cost before you pay.
The ISD and meter deposit are refundable when the agreement ends. Later, if your use goes up, the ESCOM can ask for an additional security deposit.
What goes wrong at the counter
- Load under-declared. Ask for the load you will actually use. Three-phase becomes compulsory above 5 kW. Read single-phase vs three-phase before you fill the form.
- One meter for a house with a rented floor. If you plan to rent a portion, apply for separate meters now. See separate meters for rented portions.
- Old arrears on the plot. If an earlier connection on the same premises was disconnected with dues, those dues are collected before a new one is given.
- Built-up area over 500 sq m or load of 25 kW or more. The building then counts as a complex, and you have to provide a transformer. See apartments and multi-storey buildings.
- No follow-up on the application number. If the time limit has passed with a complete file, write to the subdivision and quote it. Our post on ESCOM delays and compensation explains the next steps.
KERC regulations, tariff orders and ESCOM circulars change from time to time, and a new consolidated Electricity Supply Regulations draft was published by KERC in August 2026. Before you act, confirm the current rule with your ESCOM subdivision office (BESCOM, MESCOM, CESC Mysuru, HESCOM or GESCOM), on kerc.karnataka.gov.in, or on the helpline 1912.
After the meter is fixed
- Check the first bill. Confirm the name, address, tariff category (LT-1 domestic) and sanctioned load. A wrong load means wrong fixed charges every month. The meter display can show the reading and the maximum demand.
- Register for Gruha Jyothi. A new connection has no consumption history, so a default entitlement applies at first. See Gruha Jyothi for new connections.
- Keep the file. Store the demand note receipts, the agreement, the test report and the RR number. You will need them for a deposit refund, a name transfer or a load change.
- Plan for growth. Adding ACs, an EV charger or a geyser later? Apply for load enhancement before the new load goes in.
Questions
What documents are needed for a new electricity connection in Karnataka?
Ownership proof (sale deed), the property record in the same name (e-khata, khata or e-swathu), the latest tax receipt, the sanctioned plan, the OC or proof of exemption, Aadhaar and photo, and a wiring completion and test report from a licensed electrical contractor.
How many days does the ESCOM take to give a new connection?
Where no new line is needed, the limits are 3 days in metropolitan areas, 7 days in other municipal areas and 15 days in rural areas from a complete application. Line extensions and new transformers take longer.
Is an occupancy certificate needed for a 30x40 house?
Houses on plots of up to 1,200 sq ft with an approved plan, up to ground + 2 or stilt + 3, were exempted from the OC in 2025. Confirm with your subdivision which notification applies to your local body.
How much is the security deposit for a 3 kW domestic connection?
The initial security deposit is about two months' estimated bill. BESCOM's April 2024 ready reckoner showed ₹2,310 for 3 kW in urban areas, but it changes with the tariff, so check the demand note.
Can a tenant apply for a permanent connection?
Yes. For domestic premises, KERC's conditions of supply let an occupier apply with proof of occupancy, such as a registered lease deed, and an indemnity bond, without the owner's consent.
Is a smart meter compulsory for a new house?
BESCOM made smart meters mandatory for new and temporary connections in 2025, but the High Court stayed the mandate for permanent connections in an interim order. Ask your ESCOM for the current position and price.
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.
- KERC Conditions of Supply of Electricity with amendments (GESCOM copy)
- BESCOM ready reckoner: schedule of charges for new connection (April 2024)
- SCC Online: Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2024
- SolarQuarter: KERC proposes unified Electricity Supply Regulations 2026
- Hans India: Residential buildings up to 1200 sft exempted from OC
- Deccan Herald: No OC needed for buildings on plots up to 1,200 sq ft
- Hans India: Govt clears electricity connections for buildings without OC (Sep 2025)
- Deccan Herald: Energy department guidelines for OC exemption
- Deccan Herald: Karnataka High Court stays mandatory installation of smart meters
- Deccan Herald: Smart meters not mandatory for existing users, BESCOM tells HC
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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