Customers served by the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will see an uptick in their power charges beginning in May, as authorized by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC), according to a report from Deccan Herald.
The commission has approved BESCOM’s plan to address a revenue shortfall of Rs 2,068 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
This involves an extra charge of 56 paise for each unit of power used in that timeframe.
The additional fees will not be imposed right away but will instead be spread out over the 2026-27 fiscal year via monthly billing.
BESCOM will calculate the recovery amount for every active customer based on their real energy consumption in 2024-25, officials explained to Deccan Herald.
These sums will be gathered in uniform monthly portions, known as ‘FY25 true-up charges,’ from the initial meter check after May 1, 2026, through the one on April 30, 2027.
As a result, the extra expenses will be divided across the bills during this collection phase, avoiding a single large payment.
The approval stems from ‘true-up charges’ that account for discrepancies between anticipated and real financial results.
A high-ranking official informed Deccan Herald that power providers operate annually on cost and revenue forecasts sanctioned by KERC in tariff directives.
Yet, actual results can differ because of shifts in consumption habits, rate changes, supply expenses, and other functional elements.
Such adjustments are essential to reconcile the variances between estimates and reality.
BESCOM indicated that the deficit arose from elements like expanded thermal energy assignments, elevated power acquisition prices, and diminished precipitation. The lower rainfall prompted more reliance on irrigation pumps, boosting total energy demand.
