Understanding Your Electricity Bill in Bihar (2025 Guide)
For residents of Bihar, managing household expenses often starts with understanding the "Bijli Bill." Whether you are a customer of SBPDCL (South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd) or NBPDCL (North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd), the tariff structure can be confusing. With telescopic rates, fixed charges, and government subsidies, manually calculating your due amount is difficult.
Our electricity bill calculator simplifies this. By simply entering your consumed units, you can instantly see how electricity bill is calculated and verify if the amount printed on your official bill matches your actual usage.
The Bihar Tariff Structure: How it Works
To understand how to calculate electricity bill, you must first know the "Slab System." Bihar uses a telescopic pricing model, meaning the electricity bill unit rate increases as your consumption goes up. This encourages energy saving.
Standard Rates (Urban Domestic DS-II):
- First 100 Units: ₹6.05 per unit (Lowest rate)
- 101 to 200 Units: ₹6.85 per unit
- 201 to 300 Units: ₹7.65 per unit
- Above 300 Units: ₹8.45 per unit (Highest rate)
In addition to this, there is a Fixed Charge (typically ₹40/month for standard residential connections) that you pay regardless of how much electricity you use.
The Role of Government Subsidy
One of the most frequent questions we get is about free electricity in Bihar. While electricity is not entirely free for general consumers, the Bihar State Government provides a massive subsidy to keep rates affordable. Without this subsidy, the electricity bill unit rate would be nearly double.
For example, while the actual cost of supply might be ₹8.00/unit, the government might subsidize ₹1.83/unit, meaning you only pay the difference. Our electricity bill unit rate calculator automatically deducts this subsidy to show your "Net Payable" amount.
How to Calculate Electricity Bill from Meter Reading
If you don't trust the bill that arrived at your door, you can verify it yourself. Knowing how to calculate electricity bill from meter reading is a valuable skill.
- Check Previous Reading: Look at your last month's bill for the "Previous Reading" (KWH).
- Check Current Reading: Go to your digital meter and note the current "KWH" number.
- Subtract:
Current Reading - Previous Reading = Total Units Consumed. - Use the Tool: Enter this "Total Units" number into the tool above to calculate the electricity bill amount for a month.
You can verify your official meter reading status on the SBPDCL Official Website or NBPDCL Portal.
Smart Prepaid Meters in Bihar
Bihar is rapidly shifting to Smart Prepaid Meters. In this system, you do not receive a monthly bill at the end of the month. Instead, you recharge your account (like a mobile phone) and money is deducted daily based on usage.
Why use this calculator for Prepaid? Even with prepaid meters, the tariff slabs remain the same. You can use this tool to estimate your projected monthly expense so you know how much recharge to buy at the start of the month.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Does this calculator work for Rural (Gramin) areas?
This specific tool is calibrated for Urban Domestic (DS-II) rates. Rural (DS-I) rates are generally cheaper. While you can use this for a rough estimate, the actual rural bill will likely be lower than what is shown here.
2. What happens if I don't pay the bill on time?
Late payments attract a Delay Payment Surcharge (DPS), usually calculated as a percentage of the outstanding dues. This calculator does not include penalties or previous arrears.
3. How do I apply for a new connection?
You can apply for a "Suvidha" connection online via the BSPHCL website. You will need your ID proof and property documents.
4. Is there a difference between NBPDCL and SBPDCL rates?
Generally, the tariff approved by the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) is uniform across the state for both distribution companies. Whether you live in Patna (SBPDCL) or Muzaffarpur (NBPDCL), the electricity bill unit rate is usually identical for domestic users.
5. How can I reduce my electricity bill?
Since the rates are telescopic (higher usage = higher rate), the best way to save is to stay in the lower slabs. For example, keeping consumption under 100 units ensures you pay the lowest rate of ₹6.05. Using 5-star rated appliances and LED bulbs can significantly drop your unit count.
