‘Rs 16,883 for 3BHK’: Bengaluru resident questions high electricity bill, netizens say ‘it’s not normal’

Bengaluru resident shocked over sudden surge in electricity bill. (AI-generated image)

An unexpectedly high electricity bill has left a Bengaluru resident seeking answers and sparked a wider discussion online about power charges in the city. What appeared to be a routine monthly payment quickly turned into a concern after the amount listed was far above the household’s usual expenses.

The resident, who lives in a 3BHK apartment in Bengaluru, shared on Reddit that they had received a bill of Rs 16,883. A screenshot from the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) app showed the total payable by February 18, prompting the user to question whether such a charge was normal.

Seeking clarity from others in the city, the resident directly asked fellow users if such an amount was typical. “Is this high of a bill normal in Bengaluru?” the Reddit user wrote.

To provide context, the resident then outlined the household’s regular electricity consumption and daily usage pattern.. “Is it normal for my electricity bill to be so high for Bengaluru terms?”

The user detailed the appliances used in the flat and the number of people living there. “I live in a 3 BHK apartment, 4 people, have only 1 AC which is used for a max of 5-7 hours a day, 1 gaming pc 650w, 1 small cooking induction, 1 air fryer, 4 fans on through the day,” the individual continued.

Emphasising that the current amount was unusually high compared to earlier months, the resident pointed to past bills for comparison. The resident wrote, “I just don't think it should be anywhere near this high; most of the time our bill is between 5k-9k for the same use.”

The post ended with the resident asking what steps could be taken if the bill was incorrect, “What can I do here to report this?”

Several users responded, stating that the amount appeared excessive based on the details shared. One commenter clearly expressed that the figure did not seem reasonable. “Absolutely not normal. But do keep an eye on your flatmates' usage of electricity,” the comment read.

Another user compared the situation with their own household expenses to highlight the contrast, “And here I thought my family of 4 was irresponsible with the 2k bill. I mean, we use a gas stove, and only one AC that we use only in summer. We do have a water motor, though.” Some users raised the possibility of a billing or connection issue beyond normal usage, “Are you paying for the entire building?”

Others attempted to estimate what the bill might reasonably be, based on the appliances mentioned. One wrote, “Given all that, max you should expect is maybe Rs 4K. What was the previous month's bill?”

A few advised examining the bill details carefully to identify any additional charges. The comment read, “Check for the bill break-up, you'll get the exact details. It could be some overage charges, or god knows what add on they would've sneaked!”

Another suggested using official channels to understand the reason behind the high amount, “You should check on the BESCOM website or app, it will tell you why there is so much charge. There may be a penalty or additional load.”

Is this high of a bill normal in Bengaluru? by u/Rainy247 in Bengaluru

One user who had previously dealt with a similar issue shared their experience after approaching the electricity office. Explaining changes in billing procedures, the individual described what they had been told during their visit.

The user wrote, “Faced a similar issue. Visited the BESCOM office. Turns out there were two changes made recently. They are now using third-party vendors for bill generation, and they are not used to the BESCOM software; hence, for the past 2 months, they have not taken proper readings (which can be confirmed from previous hard copies). Now they have understood the system and started generating proper bills. But since the previous 2 months' readings were not correct, they adjusted it in this month. They have added a new section in the bill that measures sudden spikes in your meter when it crosses a certain threshold. Like a gyser turning on after power is restored after a power cut. Based on that, they charge additional charges.”

The same user further explained that the situation could vary by location, but advised checking earlier bills for comparison.“All in all, the first point could be area-to-area based, but point two is a generic change, and that would affect the bills. But u can confirm that from your past bills. If those were too low compared to your avg bill, then most probably both these points apply,” the user added.

Disclaimer: The above incident has been reported based on an unverified Reddit post. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the claims.