Getting a Permanent BESCOM Connection for a New Home in Bangalore
Owners of freshly built houses in Bangalore often find that moving in is the easy part, because a permanent power supply from BESCOM hangs on paperwork. This article sets out the completion-certificate requirement that now shapes most requests, the papers to gather, the money involved and the sequence of steps. It closes with questions flat buyers should put to their builder before accepting possession.
The Rule That Changed in 2025
A Supreme Court ruling in December 2024 held that water, sewerage and power connections should go only to buildings holding an occupancy or completion certificate (OC). BESCOM acted on it from April 4, 2025, and stopped processing permanent-supply requests that did not carry the OC. Many completed homes stayed on construction power.
Karnataka then softened the position for small residential buildings. In September 2025 the OC was waived for plots measuring no more than 1,200 sq ft, built as G+2 or stilt plus 3. By June 2026 the waiver covered plots as large as 2,400 sq ft, with 20% leeway, and G+3 construction.
One more relief followed on June 22, 2026. Any house completed by May 31, 2026 could apply for permanent supply during a single 15-day window, which closed on July 6, 2026.
The waiver removes only the certificate. Plan approval is still compulsory, and norms on building lines, safety and land use apply as usual. Apartment complexes and larger buildings must produce the OC, so buyers of flats should request it before anything else.
Who Applies, and Who Does Not
An existing home comes with a running meter, and only the account holder's name changes. A flat in a new complex is different. The developer obtains one connection for the block, and your account is shifted to you once the sale is registered.
A fresh request is typical in three cases. The first is an independent house built on the owner's own plot. The remaining two are an added floor that needs a separate meter, and a finished building still on a construction connection.
Houses fall under the domestic low tension category, at the residential rate. A shop, an office or a PG operation under the same roof is charged in a commercial class at higher rates. Whatever the form says should match how the space is really used.
The Cost of Staying on Construction Power
During building work the site draws on a temporary connection, and its tariff is higher than the home rate. Families that settle in without replacing it pay more on each unit used.
The same trap exists at handover. If a complex still runs on the builder's temporary line, a permanent supply is yet to be granted, most often because the OC has not arrived. Ask for the permanent account ID before collecting keys.
Papers You Will Need
The office wants evidence of identity, of ownership and of safe wiring. A typical file holds an Aadhaar, PAN, passport or voter card, along with a sale deed plus khata (or e-Khata). It also needs the latest tax-paid receipt, the approved building plan, plus a photograph and a phone number.
Where the building does not qualify for the waiver, the OC goes in too. The last item, and the one most often forgotten, is the report on completed wiring. Only a state-licensed electrical contractor may sign it, certifying that the internal circuits and earthing passed testing, so engage that person before work begins.
Filing the Request
Requests are lodged through BESCOM's online portal or at the nearest sub-division. The usual order is below:
- Work out the likely load with the contractor.
- Complete the form for a new low tension supply and tick the domestic class.
- Upload the papers and remit the registration charge.
- Let an engineer visit to inspect the premises, circuits and load.
- Study the estimate that lists deposits and cable charges.
- Pay, and sign the supply agreement.
- Wait for the meter and the switch-on.
The reference number tracks each stage. If the office raises a query, processing halts until a reply is sent, so quick answers save days. Most holdups trace to a wiring report that has not been filed, or a title paper bearing a different name from the applicant's.
Understanding the Estimate
Amounts are calculated per property, and the estimate issued after inspection is the number to rely on. It generally combines four elements. One is the registration fee, and another a first security deposit pegged to the approved load in kilowatts. The rest are either a meter deposit or the meter's price, and supervision plus cable charges from the pole or transformer.
The load you ask for moves nearly every figure. An inflated request lifts both the deposit and the monthly fixed charge. Too small a request risks a penalty when the meter registers greater demand, which makes a truthful estimate the economical choice.
Smart meters have been going onto new and temporary connections in BESCOM's urban areas since February 15, 2025, at the applicant's cost. These meters send readings remotely, and daily use can be watched on a phone.
Setting the Load Correctly
Load is the maximum power a household may use together at one time. A compact apartment with lights, fans, a fridge and one AC draws much less than a big villa with several ACs, geysers and an induction cooktop. Draws above a few kilowatts normally lead to a three-phase supply.
Think ahead at this stage. Charging an electric car and running rooftop solar both depend on the approved load and the supply type. Raising it later is permitted, yet it means a fresh application and one more deposit.
Flat Buyers: Questions Before Possession
Buyers of apartments seldom file the request, but the builder's paperwork decides their monthly bill. It helps to ask whether the OC has been obtained, whether the building has a lasting supply with every flat metered separately, and what load is approved for yours.
Also check that electricity bills are cleared up to handover, and that the BESCOM deposit in the cost sheet agrees with receipts. One phase or three is worth confirming as well.
To receive free units under Gruha Jyothi, register separately with Seva Sindhu once the account is in the resident's name. Our team supports buyers across Bangalore who need these papers from developers, and the contact page lists our details.
