Tariffs, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
How SERCs set domestic electricity tariffs, what slabs, fixed charges, duty and FPPAS mean, state free-power schemes, smart meters and time-of-day pricing.
electricity bill calculation and tariff comparison India
Understand every line of your electricity and gas bill
Your bijli bill is set by a State Electricity Regulatory Commission tariff order, a state subsidy and a monthly fuel surcharge. Your cooking gas cost depends on the oil companies' monthly price and the subsidy you are eligible for. These guides explain each part, with rupee arithmetic you can check against your own bill.
- Slab-by-slab worked examples using named tariff orders, such as TNERC Order No. 6 of 2025
- Free-power schemes, smart prepaid meters and time-of-day tariffs explained with their conditions
- LPG, PMUY and PNG costs compared, plus the CGRF and Ombudsman route when a bill is wrong
Start hereElectricity bill calculator: Tamil Nadu domestic slabs (TNERC Order No. 6 of 2025)
Explore by topic
Bill Calculations, Gas Costs and Checklists
Worked electricity bill examples, how to read your bill, LPG and PMUY costs, PNG versus LPG, rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar and a bill-saving checklist.
Billing Mistakes, Complaints and Official Sources
Why bills spike, faulty meters, sub-metering by landlords, LPG and PNG complaints, and the CGRF and Electricity Ombudsman route under the Electricity Act, 2003.
Start here
Bill Calculations, Gas Costs and Checklists
Electricity bill calculation in India - worked examples for Delhi and Tamil Nadu (2026)
Step-by-step bill calculations using the Delhi DERC schedule and TNERC Order No. 6 of 2025, with surcharge, subsidy and common mistakes shown in rupees.
Tariffs, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
Free electricity schemes in 2026 - Delhi 200 units, Gruha Jyothi, Punjab 300 units, Tamil Nadu
How state free-power and subsidy schemes work in Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab and Tamil Nadu, who qualifies, what happens above the limit and how to check yours.
Tariffs, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
How electricity tariffs are set in India in 2026 (SERC tariff orders explained)
Who fixes your domestic electricity rate, how a SERC tariff order works, what goes into the bill and where state subsidy, duty and FPPAS come in.
Bill Calculations, Gas Costs and Checklists
LPG cylinder price and monthly cooking gas cost in India (2026 guide)
How domestic LPG prices are set, the Delhi 14.2 kg reference price, how many days a cylinder lasts, DBTL subsidy and how to work out your yearly gas cost.
Bill Calculations, Gas Costs and Checklists
PM Surya Ghar subsidy and net metering - what rooftop solar does to your electricity bill
The ₹30,000, ₹60,000 and ₹78,000 central assistance, how net metering shows on your bill, sizing to your units and a payback example in rupees.
Tariffs, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
Electricity tariffs compared - Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka (2026)
How four large states structure domestic tariffs in 2026, which tariff order applies, what is verified and where to check rates for your DISCOM.
Tools
Electricity bill calculator: Tamil Nadu domestic slabs (TNERC Order No. 6 of 2025)
Work out the energy charge for your two-month units slab by slab, using the Commission-determined LT-IA domestic rates in TNERC Suo-motu Order No. 6 of 2025, before the Tamil Nadu government subsidy.
Rooftop solar payback calculator (PM Surya Ghar)
Work out the net cost after central financial assistance, the years to pay back and the saving over the system life for a home rooftop solar system.
Cooking gas cost estimator (LPG refills per year)
Estimate your yearly cooking gas spend from the number of LPG refills you take and the price you pay per refill, with or without PMUY subsidy.
Electricity bill check and dispute checklist
Go through your bill line by line, collect evidence and escalate in the right order if the amount looks wrong.
Tariff types and cooking-fuel options compared
| Option | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telescopic slab tariff | Each block of units is charged at its own slab rate; crossing a slab raises only the extra units | Most households; predictable when usage is steady | Bi-monthly billing or a long billing period can push more units into upper slabs |
| Non-telescopic or category tariff | Crossing a threshold changes the rate for all units or moves you to a different category | Rarely an advantage; some states use it to target subsidy | A few extra units can raise the whole bill sharply; know the threshold |
| Fixed charge per kW of sanctioned load | A monthly amount per kW of contracted load, regardless of use | Homes whose load matches their real peak demand | Too high a sanctioned load wastes money; too low risks excess-demand penalties |
| Fuel and power purchase adjustment surcharge (FPPAS) | A monthly percentage or per-unit add-on to pass through changes in power purchase cost | Nobody chooses it; it applies automatically | It can add a double-digit percentage in some months; check the DISCOM's published rate |
Frequently asked questions
Who decides the electricity rate on my bill?
Your State Electricity Regulatory Commission (or the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for some states and union territories) fixes retail tariffs in a tariff order under Sections 62 and 86 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The state government can lower what you pay by giving a subsidy under Section 65, which it must pay to the DISCOM in advance. Fuel surcharges and electricity duty are added separately.
Why did my bill jump when my usage only rose a little?
Most domestic tariffs are slab-based, so extra units are charged at your highest slab. A longer billing period, an estimated reading followed by an actual one, the loss of a free-power subsidy above a threshold, or a higher FPPAS that month can all add to the jump. Compare the units and billing period with previous bills first.
Is electricity free in Delhi, Karnataka and Punjab?
Each state runs its own scheme with conditions. Delhi subsidises the full bill up to 200 units a month for consumers who opt in, Karnataka's Gruha Jyothi covers domestic consumption up to 200 units based on past average use, and Punjab announced 300 free units a month from July 2022. Check the current terms with your DISCOM, as they can change with each budget.
Do I have to accept a smart prepaid meter?
Smart metering is being rolled out under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme and the metering rules of the Central Electricity Authority, and the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules give consumers rights on how meters are installed and tested. Whether prepaid mode is compulsory for your category depends on your state's decision. Ask your DISCOM in writing for the order under which your meter is being replaced.
What is the price of a domestic LPG cylinder?
The 14.2 kg domestic cylinder in Delhi has cost ₹942 since 7 June 2026 (still the price on 1 October 2026, according to PPAC). PMUY beneficiaries get ₹300 back on up to 4 refills a year, so a subsidised refill costs about ₹642. Prices are revised by the oil marketing companies and differ by city, so check the cash memo or the IOCL, BPCL or HPCL website for today's rate.
Where do I complain if the DISCOM does not fix my bill?
After a written complaint to the DISCOM, file before the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum set up under Section 42(5) of the Electricity Act. If the forum's order does not resolve it, appeal to the Electricity Ombudsman under Section 42(6). Your SERC's website gives the forum addresses and time limits.
Does rooftop solar make my bill zero?
Not always. Net metering offsets exported units against imported ones, but fixed charges, duty and minimum charges may remain, and the settlement rules depend on your state's regulations. A PM Surya Ghar system sized to your daytime and monthly use can bring the energy charge close to zero.
How this site is made
Bijli aur Chulha is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.