Bengaluru: The govt Monday issued a fresh order expanding the exemption for obtaining permanent electricity connections. The move is expected to benefit lakhs of homeowners across the state who were affected by earlier notifications and eligibility conditions.Under the revised order, owners of completed residential buildings constructed on plots measuring up to 2,400 sqft, with a permissible deviation of up to 20%, can obtain permanent electricity connections without furnishing an occupancy certificate (OC). The benefit applies to G+3 residential buildings or structures with stilt parking plus four floors, located within the jurisdictions of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), development authorities, municipal corporations, urban local bodies and gram panchayats.The exemption is available for buildings completed on or before May 31, 2026. It covers homeowners who had applied for permanent electricity connections before the cut-off date, those who constructed buildings using temporary electricity connections, and those who completed construction without obtaining any electricity connection. Eligible applicants have been given a 15-day window from June 22 to submit applications for permanent electricity connections under the revised scheme.The clarification follows widespread confusion over an earlier govt order, which was interpreted as restricting the benefit only to those who had applied for permanent power connections before May 31.Homeowners and electrical contractors had argued that many residents could not submit applications because power utilities had stopped processing requests from buildings lacking approved plans and occupancy certificates following a Supreme Court ruling in Dec 2024.TOI, in its June 9 edition, had highlighted the confusion and reported that all homeowners who completed construction before May 31, or had obtained temporary electricity connections during construction, would be eligible for the relaxation. Reviewing the issue at its June 20 meeting, the state cabinet approved a modified framework to ensure that genuine homeowners are not denied electricity connections merely because they could not file applications before the deadline.The govt has also extended relief to rural communities by exempting the OC requirement for electricity connections to houses occupied by farmers, farmhouses, agricultural equipment storage structures, cattle sheds and silkworm-rearing units. The energy dept said separate operational guidelines will be issued to electricity supply companies (Escoms) for implementing the revised order.Contractors protest privatization moveMembers of Karnataka State Association of Licensed Electrical Contractors staged a protest at Freedom Park Monday opposing the proposed privatization of the state’s power distribution network and the move to relax norms for electrical works up to 150 KVA.Contractors from Bengaluru and various districts participated in the demonstration, demanding that govt abandon any plans to privatize power distribution. Association president C Ramesh alleged that privatization could adversely affect consumers, increase electricity tariffs and service charges, and jeopardize welfare schemes such as Gruha Jyothi.
