Bescom receives 6,500 applications for power connections without occupancy certificates

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) received 6,500 applications for permanent electricity connections without an Occupancy Certificate (OC) between Tuesday, June 23, and Friday, June 26, following a recent state government exemption. The temporary waiver, granted by the State Government on Monday, June 22, allows eligible homeowners across Bengaluru to secure permanent power connections if their buildings meet specific size and structural criteria.

The exemption is specifically aimed at residential buildings constructed on plots measuring up to 2,400 square feet. Eligible structures must have a ground plus three floors (G+3) layout or stilt parking with four floors (S+4). Additionally, the construction of these premises must be completed before May 31, 2026.

According to a senior Bescom official, the 6,500 applications include homeowners with pending applications for permanent power, those currently using temporary connections, and residents who previously had no electricity connection at all.

To verify eligibility, Bescom section engineers from each subdivision will conduct on-site inspections. While GPS-tagged photographs attached to the applications can verify the number of floors, they do not show the exact plot size. Engineers must physically measure the sites, which are allowed a maximum deviation of 20% (up to 2,888 square feet) mainly due to setback areas. Applications that do not meet these parameters will be rejected, requiring owners to apply for a standard OC.

The deadline for homeowners to apply under this scheme is July 6, 2026. However, Bescom officials estimate that the physical inspections of the properties will continue for three to four months. In cases where homeowners wish to install an elevator, junior engineers will submit site measurements and photographs to senior engineers for thorough inspection and approval.

Under the regulations, applicants securing these permanent connections must install a 3 kW smart meter, which costs ₹4,988. This capacity is typically used for houses with two to three bedrooms, a hall, and a kitchen. Homeowners will also be charged ₹820 for installation and maintenance, ₹10,500 in line service charges, and a deposit of ₹13,500, which represents an average of two months’ electricity billing.