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					</table>The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (<a href="https://kerc.karnataka.gov.in/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KERC</a>) has proposed the Draft Electricity Supply Regulations, 2026, consolidating the state&#8217;s rules governing electricity connections, metering, billing, security deposits, power supply to buildings, consumer installations, and unauthorized use of electricity.
The draft notification seeks comments, suggestions, and objections from stakeholders within 30 days of its publication in the Gazette.
Once finalized, the regulations will apply across the state to all distribution licensees (DISCOMs), consumers, and applicants for electricity supply.
Classification of Supply
KERC proposes to classify supply according to load and voltage. Systems with single phase at 230 V can supply power to installations up to 5 kW excluding motive power, while supply from three-phase 400 V low tension (LT) systems would cover installations up to and including 150 kW/176 kVA/201 HP.
Installations exceeding this threshold and up to 2,000 kVA would ordinarily receive 11 kV supply. Higher loads would be supplied at 33 kV, 66 kV, 110 kV, or 220 kV, subject to the prescribed thresholds and technical feasibility.
<a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/KERC-Draft-ESR-2026.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-103230 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/KERC-Draft-ESR-2026.png" alt="KERC Draft ESR 2026" width="518" height="400" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/KERC-Draft-ESR-2026.png 518w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/KERC-Draft-ESR-2026-300x232.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px" /></a>
Timeline for Licensee to Provide Supply
Where neither any extension of distribution mains nor construction of a new substation is required, power supply must be provided within three working days in metro cities, seven working days in other municipal areas, and 15 working days in rural areas.  In case a service line extension is required, the timeline for power supply is 90 days, while substation construction could take up to 24 months.
The draft also permits multiple LT connections within the same premises. Buildings may receive 11 kV and LT supply, or a combination, through separate service mains from a common source up to and including 7,500 kVA, subject to safety conditions.
Supervision Charges
Applicants may execute permitted service line and infrastructure works themselves through licensed electrical contractors. For self-execution, the draft proposes supervision charges of 5% of the estimated cost, capped at ₹1.5 million (~$15,692).
The draft lays down specific requirements for different consumer categories, including LT installations, irrigation pump sets, industrial and commercial consumers, HT/EHT consumers, multi-storeyed buildings, residential and commercial complexes, and electric vehicle (EV) charging.
For irrigation pump sets, supply is governed by Karnataka government policy. Applications must include evidence of water rights and other prescribed documents. Supply cannot be provided to wells located within 250 meters of drinking water borewells of a local authority.
Industrial Consumers
LT industrial consumers may opt for a demand-based tariff, where permitted by the Commission’s orders. Fixed charges would be based on sanctioned load or maximum demand recorded by the meter, whichever is higher.
Industrial consumers would be permitted to share electricity with tenants through approved sub-meters on a no-profit-no-loss basis. Similar provisions are proposed for HT and EHT industrial consumers, and certain residential, commercial, and EV charging loads inside HT/EHT premises can be separately sub-metered and billed at the applicable tariff without additional fixed charges on those sub-metered loads.
Commercial and Residential Consumers
For commercial, residential, multi-storeyed, and mixed-use buildings, the provisions generally apply where the requisitioned load is 35 kW or more, or the built-up area exceeds 800 square meters. Buildings with loads between 25 kW and 35 kW, or built-up areas between 500 square meters and 800 square meters, must provide space for distribution transformers and associated equipment, subject to prescribed conditions.
In metropolitan areas, Urban Development Authority areas, and City Corporation areas, buildings with a requisitioned load of 250 kW or more, or a built-up area exceeding 5,000 square meters, must provide at least four EV charging stations with adequate parking for simultaneously charging four-wheelers.
Buildings exceeding 500 square meters of built-up area are exempt from providing transformer space where a behind-the-meter rooftop solar plant is installed, and the requisitioned load does not exceed 10 kW. For mixed-use buildings, common area services would be billed under the domestic tariff where commercial load does not exceed 25% of the total load. Where commercial load exceeds 25%, the common area services would generally attract the commercial tariff.
Responsibility of Developers 
In residential layouts, developers would deposit the cost of 80% of the required distribution transformers and allied equipment with the distribution licensee, which would install them in phases as demand develops.
Temporary electricity connections would generally have to be serviced within 48 hours, or within seven days where distribution system augmentation is required.
Power Factor Applicable to HT/EHT and LT Installations
KERC proposes safety and power factor requirements for consumer installations. These include regulations like wiring must comply with applicable Central Electricity Authority safety regulations.
The regulations also prescribe power factor requirements for LT, HT, and EHT installations. Where monthly consumption falls below 10 units per kVA of contracted demand or 10 units per kW of sanctioned load, the power factor penalty would be capped at 30% of the energy charges.
Metering
It also proposes that no new connection be released unless the meter conforms to the CEA metering regulations.
LT consumers would be provided smart meters or prepaid smart meters depending on their choices, while HT/EHT consumers would use three-phase tri-vector meters or smart meters.
Security Deposit
Every applicant must pay an Initial Security Deposit equivalent to the estimated electricity charges for two months&#8217; consumption in cases of monthly billing.
The distribution licensee could demand an additional security deposit (ASD) based on consumption. Consumers would have an opportunity to object to the demand, while licensees would have to make detailed ASD calculations available for download through the consumer&#8217;s online account.
A meter security deposit would generally be collected for new installations unless the consumer purchases the meter. Failure to pay the required security deposit within the stipulated period could result in disconnection.
Transfer of Installation
Transfer of an electricity connection would require prescribed proof of ownership or occupation and Aadhaar e-KYC authentication.
Restrictions for Power Use 
The transferee should undertake to pay any dues that may arise due to any short claims detected later even in respect of periods prior to the date of transfer.
The licensee may also impose restrictions on electricity use because of system constraints or shortages. Consumption above restricted levels may attract deterrent charges and could lead to disconnection without notice.
For applicable non-domestic installations, where connected or rated load exceeds sanctioned load or contracted demand, assessment would be made at twice the applicable tariff for the period of unauthorized use.
Misuse of Electricity
Where electricity is used for a purpose attracting a higher tariff, charges would similarly be assessed at twice the applicable tariff. Unauthorized extension of supply beyond the consumer&#8217;s premises could lead to immediate disconnection, with reconnection permitted only after the unauthorized extension is removed.
The draft also states that no theft case should be booked merely because the meter window glass or seal is broken, where the previous 12 months&#8217; consumption pattern is reasonably uniform or is not less than 50% of the prescribed estimated consumption, unless prima facie evidence of theft exists.
Earlier in June, KERC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/karnataka-propose-lower-levelized-tariff-for-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> reducing levelized generic tariffs for distributed and ground-mounted solar projects serving domestic and non-domestic consumers.
Subscribe to Mercom’s real-time <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/mercoms-renewable-energy-regulatory-updates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regulatory Updates</a> to ensure you don’t miss any critical updates from the renewable industry.

Karnataka Regulator Proposes New Electricity Supply Rules

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					</table>Italy&#8217;s transmission system operator (TSO) <a href="https://www.terna.it/it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Terna SpA</a> has approved six of Sweden-based Hexicon&#8217;s seven proposed floating wind power projects for connection to the national grid.
Terna&#8217;s interconnection permit is a preliminary agreement that provides a commitment from the transmission system operator to make the necessary capacity available to be connected to the grid. The interconnection permit is an important step to avail the main authorization for building and operating an offshore wind farm.
The combined capacity of the six sites is 7,100 MW, while the permit for the one remaining site is pending.
Hexicon applied for grid connections last year. Terna has now issued the specifications to connect the six locations in Italy to the country&#8217;s power grid.
With the above approval, Hexicon, through its joint venture AvenHexicon in Italy, now has a portfolio of seven development sites for floating wind along Sardinia, Sicily, and Puglia coast.
&#8220;The progress is moving at record speed, which speaks for Italy&#8217;s ambition to develop renewables in the country. Having the grid connection ready is yet another milestone passed, and one which significantly increases the value of each project,&#8221; said CEO at AvenHexicon Alberto Dalla Rosa.
Italy has a strong potential for floating wind due to its vast coastline and abundant wind resources. The country&#8217;s government is also making efforts to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects to cut its dependence on Russia for gas imports.
The country is aiming to generate 55% of its total electricity generation from renewables by 2030. Last year, Italy was <a href="https://mercomindia.com/gwec-next-wave-floating-offshore-wind/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">named</a> one of the top five emerging markets worldwide for offshore wind, by the Global Wind Energy Council in its report. The Italian government has presented the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to make the post-pandemic recovery as green as possible.
Last November, Denmark-based wind turbine maker Vestas announced that MunmuBaram, a joint venture <a href="https://mercomindia.com/daily-news-wrap-up-black-2-gw-of-solar-and-battery-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">between</a> Hexicon AB and Shell, named Vestas as the preferred supplier of turbines for the 1.3 GW MunmuBaram floating offshore wind project in South Korea.

Hexicon Inches Closer to Developing 7.1 GW Offshore Wind Projects in Italy

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