Nirav Dhanani KERC (Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission) is Karnataka's state electricity regulator, set up in 1999 under the Karnataka Electricity Reform Act, 1999 and now operating under the Electricity Act, 2003. It sets tariffs and the rooftop solar net metering, open access and RPO rules that BESCOM and the state's four other ESCOMs apply.
KERC is the regulator behind Karnataka’s solar tariffs, net metering and open access orders. This entry is for rooftop installers, C&I buyers and developers in Karnataka who need the KERC full form, what the commission controls, and which ESCOM handles their application.
Key Takeaways
- KERC = Karnataka state electricity regulator.
- BESCOM is primary urban DISCOM (Bengaluru).
- MESCOM, CESCOM, HESCOM, GESCOM serve other regions.
- Strong commercial solar market in Karnataka.
What does KERC regulate in Karnataka?
KERC does not connect or bill a single solar customer directly, that job falls to Karnataka’s DISCOMs. Instead, KERC issues the tariff orders and net metering regulations that those DISCOMs are legally required to follow, sets Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets that push discoms and large consumers toward solar procurement, and defines the terms of Open Access transactions on the state grid.
In practice, a rooftop solar customer in Bengaluru interacts with BESCOM, but the size limits, banking rules, and charges that BESCOM applies all trace back to a KERC order. The same logic applies to any DISCOM in India, the DISCOM is the customer-facing utility, while the state regulator sets the rules it must follow.
KERC’s Distribution Licensees Across Karnataka
| DISCOM | Primary Service Area |
|---|---|
| BESCOM | Bengaluru and 7 surrounding districts |
| MESCOM | Coastal Karnataka (Mangaluru, Udupi) |
| CESCOM | Mysuru region |
| HESCOM | Hubli-Dharwad and North Karnataka |
| GESCOM | Kalaburagi and North-Eastern Karnataka |
Each of these five licensees implements KERC’s statewide net metering and RPO orders within its own territory, so processing timelines and application portals can differ across Karnataka even though the underlying regulation is the same. BESCOM, serving Bengaluru’s dense residential and commercial solar market, is by far the highest-volume of the five.
Related Reading
Karnataka’s approval timelines for rooftop and commercial solar are ultimately shaped by KERC’s orders, so our state-wise processing times guide is a useful reference for comparing Karnataka against other major Indian states before scoping a project.
Because most Karnataka rooftop installations route through DISCOM-level net metering rather than full Open Access, it’s worth reading the DISCOM glossary entry alongside this one to see where KERC’s rulemaking role ends and day-to-day utility processing begins, and the Net Metering (India) entry for how these state-level rules compare nationally.
For a plainer-language look at how net metering credits actually work for a solar customer, Heaven Green Energy’s net metering explainer covers the mechanics from the homeowner’s side.
The state rules are summarised in the Karnataka solar policy guide.
Disclosure: Heaven Green Energy is a Heaven Designs group company.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 commonly searched questions about KERC.
What is the full form of KERC?
Is KERC the same as BESCOM?
Which ESCOM applies to my solar project in Karnataka?
Do KERC's net metering rules differ from other states?
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