🗓️Last Updated: June 2026

Karnataka Gruha Jyothi 2026: 200 Units Free Electricity per Month

Gruha Jyothi is one of Karnataka government's 5 guarantees — providing 200 units of free electricity per month to domestic single-phase consumers. If your household consumes 200 units or less, the entire bill is zero. For consumption above 200 units, you pay only for units beyond 200. Learn eligibility, how to register, and how the billing works.

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Verified by NagrikIQ Research Team
Sources: Official .gov.in portals only · Updated June 2026
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🔗sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in — Official Portal →

📋 Overview

Gruha Jyothi was launched by the Karnataka Congress government in July 2023 as one of the 5 Congress guarantee schemes (along with Gruha Lakshmi, Shakti, Anna Bhagya, and Yuva Nidhi). The scheme provides 200 units of free electricity per month to qualifying domestic consumers. How it works: - If consumption ≤ 200 units in a month: Electricity bill = ₹0 (entire bill waived) - If consumption > 200 units: You pay only for the units above 200 (at normal tariff rates) - Example: Use 250 units → Pay only for 50 units. Use 180 units → Pay nothing. Electricity providers covered: - BESCOM (Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company) — Bengaluru and surrounding districts - MESCOM, HESCOM, GESCOM, CHESCOM — other regions of Karnataka The scheme is automatically applied to eligible connections — no separate monthly application needed once registered. The benefit appears as a deduction in the electricity bill. Important: The scheme covers only domestic (residential) single-phase connections. Three-phase connections (used for larger homes or commercial establishments) are generally not covered or have different limits. Agricultural connections and commercial connections are not eligible.

✅ Eligibility

  • ✓Domestic (residential) electricity consumer in Karnataka with a single-phase connection
  • ✓Connection must be in the domestic category (not commercial, industrial, or agricultural)
  • ✓Household electricity consumption should be ≤ 200 units per month to get full benefit (zero bill)
  • ✓If consumption exceeds 200 units, you receive 200 units free but pay for excess units at normal tariff
  • ✓One connection per household — if a household has multiple domestic connections, only one is eligible
  • ✓Must not have a defaulted/disputed electricity account — outstanding dues must be cleared
  • ✓Three-phase domestic connections: eligibility varies — check with your ESCOM (electricity supply company) for current policy
  • ✓Metered connections only — unmetered connections must first get a meter installed

📁 Documents Required

▸Electricity consumer number / account number (found on your electricity bill)
▸Aadhaar card of the account holder (for identity verification and registration)
▸Ration card (for household identity — Gruha Jyothi links with Gruha Lakshmi ration card data)
▸Mobile number linked to Aadhaar (for OTP verification and bill alerts)
▸Bank account details (for refund if overpaid before benefit was applied)
▸Proof of residence (electricity bill itself serves as address proof for other documents)

💰Fees & Processing Time

Fee
FREE — No registration fee. The 200 units free electricity is a subsidy — no charge to the consumer.
Processing Time
One-time registration at sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in or at the ESCOM office. After registration verification (typically 7–15 days), the benefit is automatically applied to your monthly bills. Once activated, no further action needed — the benefit continues each month automatically.

🖥️ How to Apply Online

  1. 1Visit sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in — Karnataka's integrated citizen service portal
  2. 2Search for 'Gruha Jyothi' in the search bar or navigate to the energy/electricity section
  3. 3Click 'Apply for Gruha Jyothi' registration
  4. 4Enter your electricity consumer number (from your electricity bill)
  5. 5Your details (name, address) are auto-populated from ESCOM records
  6. 6Enter Aadhaar number for eKYC verification — OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked mobile
  7. 7Link your ration card (family ID) for household identity verification
  8. 8Submit the registration — you receive an acknowledgement number
  9. 9Track registration status at sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in using the acknowledgement number
  10. 10Once approved, the Gruha Jyothi deduction automatically appears in your next electricity bill

🏢 How to Apply Offline

  1. 1Visit your nearest BESCOM/MESCOM/HESCOM/GESCOM/CHESCOM divisional office
  2. 2Ask for Gruha Jyothi registration form
  3. 3Carry: electricity bill (for consumer number), Aadhaar card, ration card
  4. 4Fill the form and submit to the ESCOM office
  5. 5The ESCOM officer verifies eligibility and registers you in the Gruha Jyothi system
  6. 6Registration confirmation is sent via SMS on your registered mobile
  7. 7Alternatively, visit any Bangalore One / Karnataka One centre for assisted application

⚠️Common Problems & Solutions

✗Bill still shows charges despite using less than 200 units after registration
→First, verify your registration status at sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in. If registration is approved but bill still shows charges, the ESCOM may not have updated the billing system yet (can take 1 billing cycle). If 2 billing cycles have passed, visit the ESCOM divisional office with your acknowledgement number and electricity bill. They will correct the bill and issue a refund if you overpaid.
✗Used 250 units — how much will I pay?
→You pay only for the 50 units above the 200 free units. The tariff for domestic consumers in Karnataka is tiered — for the first slab above 200 units (201–500 units), the rate is approximately ₹7.10 per unit (BESCOM tariff, check current rates). Your bill for 250 units ≈ 50 × ₹7.10 = ₹355 (plus fixed charges for that slab — may vary by ESCOM).
✗Three-phase connection — am I eligible for Gruha Jyothi?
→Gruha Jyothi primarily targets single-phase domestic connections. For three-phase connections, eligibility depends on the specific ESCOM and Karnataka government policy updates. Check with your local ESCOM office as the policy may have been updated in 2026 to include certain three-phase domestic connections with low consumption.
✗My electricity account has old dues — can I still register for Gruha Jyothi?
→Old dues (arrears) may block Gruha Jyothi benefit. Visit the ESCOM office, pay outstanding dues, and then register. Some ESCOMs allow registration with pending dues and adjust them from the free units benefit — but this varies. Clear dues first for a smooth registration process.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Does the 200 units reset every month or is it cumulative?

It resets every month — 200 units free per month, not cumulative. If you use only 100 units in March, the remaining 100 units do NOT carry over to April. Each billing cycle (month) you get a fresh 200 unit free allowance.

Q.What happens if I am renting — is the tenant or the owner eligible?

The electricity connection is typically in the owner's name. Gruha Jyothi benefit goes to the registered consumer (owner). If you are a tenant with the connection in your name (sub-meter or your own meter), you can register as the consumer. Landlord-to-tenant benefit passing is not an official mechanism — practically, most landlords pass the saving to tenants, but it is not mandated.

Q.Does Gruha Jyothi apply to apartments in housing societies?

Individual domestic connections in apartments are eligible. Common area connections (lift, corridor lights) are typically commercial/LT connections and not eligible. If your apartment has an individual meter for each flat in the domestic category, each flat's connection can separately register for Gruha Jyothi.

Q.Is Gruha Jyothi permanent or will it end?

Gruha Jyothi is a government scheme — it continues as long as the government decides to fund it. It is part of the state budget allocation. There is no fixed expiry date. Any changes to the scheme would require a government notification. As of June 2026, the scheme is active and being implemented across Karnataka.

Q.My ration card is not available — can I register without it?

The ration card/family ID is used for household identity verification in Gruha Jyothi. If you don't have a ration card, contact the ESCOM office — they may accept other household identity documents. Alternatively, first apply for a ration card through the Karnataka Food Department, then register for Gruha Jyothi.

📞Helpline & Support

  • ▸BESCOM Helpline: 1912 (electricity complaints and Gruha Jyothi queries in Bengaluru)
  • ▸Karnataka Energy Department: energy.kar.nic.in
  • ▸Seva Sindhu Portal: sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in
  • ▸CM Helpline Karnataka: 1902
  • ▸Grievance: Karnataka Sakala portal — sakala.kar.nic.in
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