About this tool
The Electricity Bill Calculator estimates your monthly electricity bill based on state-wise tariff slabs. Indian electricity pricing uses a telescopic slab system where per-unit rates increase with consumption. This tool includes approximate fixed charges and taxes.
Note: Tariff rates are approximate and based on recent published rates. Actual bills may vary based on your specific DISCOM, connection type, and current tariff orders. Check your DISCOM website for exact rates.
About the India electricity bill calculator
Indian electricity is sold under a telescopic slab structure: the more units a household pulls, the higher the per-unit rate for those extra units. Each state DISCOM (BSES, Tata Power, BEST, MSEDCL, BESCOM, TNEB, KSEB, and so on) files an annual tariff order with its state regulator, and those orders set the slab boundaries and rates. This calculator carries the 2025 to 2026 published tariffs for 15 of the largest DISCOMs, applies the slabs to your stated monthly consumption, adds the published fixed charge for that DISCOM, then layers a flat 5 percent electricity duty (a typical rate; some states are higher).
The result is a planning estimate, not a bill. Real DISCOM invoices also carry fuel adjustment costs, time-of-day surcharges where applicable, and any state subsidy or free-unit allowance under schemes such as the AAP free-power bands in Delhi and Punjab. The point of the calculator is to let you change usage, switch state, or flip from domestic to commercial and immediately see how the bill responds.
How the telescopic slab math works
Telescopic billing means consumption gets sliced into bands and each band is priced independently. A 250 unit Maharashtra MSEDCL household does not get billed at one flat rate; it gets billed at the lowest-slab rate for units 1 to 100, the next-slab rate for units 101 to 250, and so on. Non-telescopic tariffs, by contrast, charge the highest applicable slab rate on every single unit, which used to be common in commercial categories.
Energy_charge = sum over slabs ( units_in_slab * rate_in_slab ) Total_bill = Energy_charge + Fixed_charge + Electricity_duty + Cess Avg_per_unit = Total_bill / total_units
Worked example: 350 units in Maharashtra (May 2026)
A Pune household reports 350 units of consumption for May 2026 on an MSEDCL domestic connection. Using the 2025-26 tariff order:
- Slab 1 (units 1 to 100): 100 x Rs 4.71 = Rs 471.
- Slab 2 (units 101 to 300): 200 x Rs 7.43 = Rs 1,486.
- Slab 3 (units 301 to 500): 50 x Rs 10.40 = Rs 520.
- Energy charge subtotal: Rs 2,477.
- Fixed monthly charge: Rs 110 (MSEDCL urban domestic).
- Electricity duty 5 percent: Rs 124.
State-wise domestic slab reference (FY 2025-26)
| State / DISCOM | First-tier rate | Top-tier rate | Fixed charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi BSES / Tata | Rs 3 (free first 200) | Rs 7 | Rs 25 |
| Mumbai Adani / BEST | Rs 4 | Rs 11 | Rs 100 |
| Maharashtra MSEDCL | Rs 4.71 | Rs 12.46 | Rs 110 |
| Karnataka BESCOM | Rs 4.10 | Rs 8.20 | Rs 65 |
| Tamil Nadu TNEB | Rs 0 (free first 100) | Rs 6.50 | Rs 30 |
| Telangana TSSPDCL | Rs 1.95 | Rs 9.50 | Rs 50 |
| Kerala KSEB | Rs 3.15 | Rs 8.50 | Rs 50 |
| Gujarat UGVCL / MGVCL | Rs 3.20 | Rs 5.20 | Rs 40 |
| Uttar Pradesh UPPCL | Rs 3.85 | Rs 6.85 | Rs 65 |
| West Bengal WBSEDCL | Rs 5.41 | Rs 7.96 | Rs 55 |
Common pitfalls
- Confusing telescopic with flat pricing. A 250 unit user does not pay the slab 2 rate on every unit, only on units inside slab 2. Many DIY spreadsheets get this wrong by 15 to 25 percent.
- Forgetting electricity duty. Duty ranges from 5 to 20 percent depending on the state. It is calculated on energy charge only, not on total. Maharashtra and Karnataka are at the high end.
- Mixing kW and kWh. Bills are billed per kWh (units). Sanctioned load is in kW or kVA. A 3 kW connection running 4 hours per day for 30 days produces 360 kWh.
- Missing the free-unit grant. Delhi, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu give free units below a threshold. Stay just under the threshold and your bill can fall by 60 to 100 percent.
- Ignoring time-of-day rates. Some states levy a peak-hour surcharge (Maharashtra MSEDCL) or offer off-peak discounts. The calculator assumes uniform pricing.
- Wrong category selection. Commercial premises billed at domestic rates can lead to a back-billing dispute. Confirm the tariff category printed on your bill.
Related India tools
Frequently asked questions
How is the electricity bill calculated in India?
Indian DISCOMs use telescopic slab pricing. Units are billed at progressively higher rates as consumption climbs. A 250 unit Maharashtra MSEDCL household in 2026 pays roughly Rs 4.71 per unit for the first 100, Rs 7.43 per unit for units 101 to 300, and Rs 10.40 per unit above 300. Fixed monthly charge, electricity duty (about 5 percent), and any state cess get added on top of the pure energy cost to produce the bill total.
Which Indian state has the cheapest electricity in 2026?
Domestic tariffs vary widely by state and tier. Delhi grants 200 free units per month for BSES and Tata Power consumers and a 50 percent rebate up to 400 units, which makes it the cheapest in absolute terms for low-usage homes. Tamil Nadu TNEB also gives 100 free units. Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana sit at the lower end of paid tariffs. Maharashtra MSEDCL, Mumbai Adani, and West Bengal WBSEDCL tend to be the costliest for above-300-unit households.
Why does my actual bill differ from this estimate?
The calculator approximates the published 2025 to 2026 tariff orders and skips items your DISCOM can add: time-of-day surcharges, fuel adjustment cost (FAC), wheeling charges, security deposit interest credit, reactive power penalty, late payment surcharge, sanctioned-load mismatch, and any state-specific subsidy or cross-subsidy. Treat the result as a planning estimate within plus or minus 10 percent. Your DISCOM bill is the legal record.
How can I lower my electricity bill in India?
Telescopic slabs reward staying in lower tiers. Five practical levers: switch incandescent and CFL bulbs to 9W LEDs (saves 80 to 90 percent on lighting), set AC to 24 or 25 degrees C (each degree lower adds about 6 percent to consumption per BEE data), buy 5-star BEE rated appliances on long-life loads like fridges and ACs, unplug always-on devices that draw 5 to 15 W idle, and apply for any rooftop solar net-metering subsidy your state offers under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
Are commercial tariffs higher than domestic in India?
Yes. Commercial (non-domestic LT) tariffs are typically 40 to 60 percent above the equivalent domestic slab and often have no free units. They also carry steeper fixed charges per kVA of sanctioned load and may include a demand charge tied to peak monthly load. This calculator multiplies the domestic rate by 1.5 as a rough commercial estimate; check your DISCOM tariff order for the actual schedule.
Last updated 2026-05-28. Tariff source: state ERC orders FY 2025-26 (MERC, KERC, TNERC, BSES, etc).