Rising temperatures have led to a surge in the demand for air conditioners, coolers, and fans in the city.
DH PHOTO/PUSHKAR V
Bengaluru: Over the last two years, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) has collected close to Rs 850 crore solely in penalties for exceeding the sanctioned load.
Data accessed by DH showed that Bescom collected Rs 397.18 crore in such penalties in 2023-24, which increased to Rs 446.67 crore in 2024-25 (up to January).
Sources said that, on average, close to 12 lakh consumers are penalised every month, the majority of whom are residential users. Bescom levies the penalty by doubling the fixed charges if a consumer exceeds their sanctioned load even once during the month.
Though authorities have been creating awareness about the importance of using power within sanctioned limits, the number of such cases continues to rise.
A senior Bescom official explained that most of the penalised consumers live in older residential houses with lower sanctioned loads, but have added electronic appliances over the years.
"Many old properties are likely to have a sanctioned load of 2–3 kW. Over time, they may have added multiple devices like air conditioners, TVs, and washing machines. Running them simultaneously often results in breaching the sanctioned load,” the official said.
This becomes especially problematic in summer when people tend to use air conditioners frequently. Officials suggest that consumers be mindful of running multiple high-power devices at the same time.
"They just need to schedule their usage. By using different devices at different times, they can save money and help reduce the load on Bescom,” another official said.
Bescom imposes the penalty to compensate for the strain on power infrastructure caused by excess load. The infrastructure is designed based on the sanctioned load in an area, and when consumers exceed it, it can lead to equipment damage and power outages.
Penalty collected
2023-24: Rs 397.18 cr
2024-25 (till Jan): Rs 446.67 cr
Check your power bill
Many consumers are unaware that they are paying a penalty every month due to usage beyond their sanctioned load. It is important to check the power bills regularly and make necessary corrections.
The penalty is levied when a consumer runs multiple high-power devices simultaneously and exceeds the sanctioned load.
Experts note that running a washing machine, TV, AC, geyser, and similar devices at the same time — even for just 15 minutes — can trigger the penalty.
Plan your usage
Plan your appliance usage and avoid running high-power devices simultaneously.
If unavoidable, apply to Bescom for an increase in your sanctioned load.