Bengaluru – Starting July 1, the Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) will mandate the installation of smart meters for all new and temporary electricity connections in rural areas under its purview. This initiative aligns with directives from the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) to modernize power infrastructure statewide.
BESCOM began deploying smart meters in Bengaluru and other urban zones on February 15, 2025. With the new directive, the rollout now extends to rural regions as well. Applicants seeking fresh or short-term power connections in these areas must purchase BESCOM-approved smart meters before their connection requests are processed.
The initiative follows KERC’s official notification issued on March 6, 2024. BESCOM confirmed that smart meter implementation has been occurring in phases ever since.
What are Smart Meters?
Smart meters differ from traditional meters by using GPRS or RF communication to send real-time consumption data to BESCOM’s servers. These devices are powered by Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), enabling two-way communication between the provider and consumer.
They come with consumer-friendly features like prepaid recharge, instant reconnection after payment, and access to detailed electricity usage via a mobile app. Users can track energy consumption, voltage, and power factor, helping manage bills more efficiently.
To further enhance customer service, BESCOM plans to launch a digital platform to streamline complaint resolution. The plan was announced by Managing Director N. Sivashankar in May at a workshop hosted with the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF).