KERC Orders 15-Day Electricity Bill Payment Window from Actual Bill Generation Date In Karnataka

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has issued a new directive aimed at protecting electricity consumers from unfair billing practices related to delayed bill generation and reduced payment periods. In an official order passed in Bengaluru, the Commission has instructed all electricity distribution licensees in Karnataka to provide consumers with a full fifteen days to pay their electricity bills, calculated strictly from the actual date of bill generation and not from the scheduled billing date.

The decision comes after the Commission received several complaints from consumers across the state regarding delayed electricity bills. According to the complaints, many distribution companies were not following the approved schedule for meter reading and bill generation as prescribed under the KERC Electricity Supply Code, 2004. In many cases, electricity bills were issued several days after the scheduled billing cycle, but the due date for payment continued to be calculated from the original billing date instead of the actual issue date.

KERC observed that this practice reduced the payment period available to consumers and created unnecessary financial pressure. Consumers were often left with very little time to clear their electricity dues, resulting in inconvenience and the risk of late payment penalties. The Commission stated that such practices were against the provisions of the Electricity Supply Code, which clearly mandates that consumers must be given fifteen days from the date of the bill to make payment. The regulations also specify that if the due date falls on a public holiday, the payment can be made on the next working day.

To address the issue and ensure transparency, the Commission has now directed all distribution licensees to include a system-generated timestamp on every electricity bill. The timestamp must clearly display the exact date and time of bill generation or printing. The Commission clarified that even if a bill is generated after the approved billing schedule, the fifteen-day payment period will start only from the actual bill generation date.

KERC has also warned distribution companies against non-compliance with the order. The Commission stated that strict legal action would be taken under Section 142 of the Electricity Act, 2003, against utilities violating the directive. The order further noted that personal accountability may be fixed on the Managing Directors of the concerned distribution companies in case of violations.

The order was signed by KERC Chairman, along with Members. The new consumer-focused rule will come into force for all electricity bills issued in Karnataka on or after June 1, 2026.