Bengaluru property owners get electricity without occupancy certificate

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has introduced a significant policy change allowing homeowners in its jurisdiction to obtain permanent electricity connections without requiring an occupancy certificate (OC). This special exemption, applicable to residential buildings constructed on sites up to 2,400 sq. ft., aims to alleviate financial burdens for low-to-mid income property owners.

Previously, obtaining an OC was a strict requirement for new electricity, water, or sewage connections, a mandate reinforced by a Supreme Court judgment in December 2024. This posed a challenge for many property owners, particularly those with constructions on 'revenue sites' (B-Khata properties), who were legally unable to secure standard approvals and thus, OCs, effectively blocking them from legitimate domestic power connections. These owners often resorted to more expensive temporary commercial connections or remained without power.

Digbijay Das, Senior Director of Valuation Services at Colliers India, noted that this GBA announcement provides crucial one-time relief by bypassing the mandatory OC requirement for permanent electricity connections. The policy is expected to resolve a gridlock for numerous households and offer direct economic benefits through lower domestic power bills. Indirect benefits, such as increased rent-generating potential for properties that can now be legally occupied and rented out, are also anticipated, particularly for smaller residential units often used for PG accommodation or hostels.