Electricity Bill Calculator

How electricity bills are calculated

Domestic electricity in India is billed in units, where 1 unit = 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh), the energy used by a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour. Most states use slab (telescopic) tariffs: the first units are charged at a low rate, and higher slabs at higher rates, so heavy users pay more per unit. A monthly fixed charge depends on your sanctioned load.

Example

If the tariff is ₹3 for the first 100 units and ₹5 for units 101–300, then 250 units cost 100 × 3 + 150 × 5 = ₹1,050 in energy charges, plus the fixed charge. The calculator shows this breakdown for your state.

What else appears on a real bill

• Electricity duty or tax, often a percentage of energy charges.
• Fuel and power purchase cost adjustments, which change periodically.
• Meter rent, arrears, late payment surcharges and rebates.
• Government subsidies. Several states give free or subsidised units below a threshold.

So the estimate here covers the main slab charge and fixed charge; your actual bill may differ.

Tariffs change every year

State electricity regulatory commissions revise tariffs annually, and rates differ between urban, rural and different distribution companies. The slabs used here are stored in our admin config with a “last checked” date and a link to the official tariff. Check your distribution company’s current tariff order for exact figures.

Cut your bill

• AC set at 24–26°C and BEE 5-star appliances save substantially.
• Switch to LED lights and BLDC fans.
• Know your slab boundary; staying just under it can save more than you expect.

Convert kWh and other energy units with the unit converter.

Quick answer

How many units does an AC use? A 1.5-ton inverter AC typically uses about 1–1.5 units per hour, depending on its star rating and settings.