KERC Karnataka Electricity Regulator: BESCOM Solar Net Metering

Definition

Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) is the state regulator for Karnataka's electricity sector, governing net metering, RPO, and Open Access policies. BESCOM is the primary urban DISCOM (Bengaluru); MESCOM, CESCOM, HESCOM, GESCOM serve other regions.

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 KERC Actually Regulates

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

5 commonly searched questions about KERC.

What is KERC?

Karnataka state electricity regulator. Sets net metering, RPO, and tariff orders for Karnataka. BESCOM is the largest DISCOM under KERC.

Is KERC the same as BESCOM?

No. KERC (Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission) is the regulator — it issues the tariff orders, net metering regulations, and RPO targets for the entire state. BESCOM is a DISCOM, one of five utilities that implement KERC's orders within its own service territory around Bengaluru.

What does KERC regulate for rooftop solar?

KERC's net metering regulations set the eligible system size, the metering arrangement, and the banking treatment of exported solar units for Karnataka consumers. It also sets the RPO (Renewable Purchase Obligation) targets that push large consumers and DISCOMs toward solar procurement.

Which DISCOM applies to my project in Karnataka?

It depends on the service territory: BESCOM covers Bengaluru and 7 surrounding districts, MESCOM covers coastal Karnataka (Mangaluru, Udupi), CESCOM covers the Mysuru region, HESCOM covers Hubli-Dharwad and North Karnataka, and GESCOM covers Kalaburagi and North-Eastern Karnataka. All five operate under KERC's statewide regulatory framework.

Do KERC's net metering rules differ from other Indian states?

Yes, in the specifics. Every State Electricity Regulatory Commission — KERC in Karnataka, GERC in Gujarat, MERC in Maharashtra — sets its own capacity caps, banking treatment, and tariff structure under the same overarching national policy framework, so a system design that clears KERC's rules may need adjustment for a project in another state.