If you live in West Bengal, calculating your electricity bill can be a confusing experience, largely because the state is split between two entirely different distribution companies. If you live in Kolkata or its immediate suburbs, your bill comes every month from CESC. But if you live anywhere else in the state, your power comes from the state-owned WBSEDCL, and your bill likely arrives only once every three months (quarterly).
Most consumers just pay the total amount without realizing that the 1 unit electricity price in West Bengal is quite different depending on which DISCOM supplies your power. Furthermore, both DISCOMs use a heavily tiered telescopic slab system with additional fuel surcharges and electricity duties stacked on top.
Let’s break down the official FY 2026-27 tariff rates for both WBSEDCL and CESC, explain the Hasir Alo scheme, and show you the real per-unit cost once surcharges and taxes are applied.
WBSEDCL vs CESC: The Billing Difference
Before looking at the rates, it is crucial to understand the billing cycle. CESC (Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation) follows a standard monthly billing cycle. WBSEDCL (West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited), on the other hand, traditionally bills domestic consumers quarterly (once every 3 months).
When you look at a WBSEDCL bill, the slab limits are multiplied by 3. For example, the 0-25 unit monthly slab becomes a 0-75 unit quarterly slab. To keep things easy to compare, the tables below show the monthly equivalent rates for both companies.
1 Unit Electricity Price in West Bengal — WBSEDCL Tariff 2026-27
For the vast majority of West Bengal (outside Kolkata proper), these are the official telescopic base energy slabs for domestic consumers:
📊 WBSEDCL Domestic Tariff (Monthly Equivalent)
| Monthly Consumption Slab | Base Energy Rate (per unit) |
|---|---|
| 0 – 25 Units | ₹ 5.30 |
| 26 – 75 Units | ₹ 5.85 |
| 76 – 150 Units | ₹ 6.70 |
| 151 – 300 Units | ₹ 7.50 |
| Above 300 Units | ₹ 8.50 |
⚡ Monthly Fixed Charge: WBSEDCL domestic consumers pay a flat fixed charge of ₹40 per month (or ₹120 per quarterly bill), regardless of their connected load.
1 Unit Electricity Price in West Bengal — CESC Tariff 2026-27
For Kolkata and surrounding metro areas, CESC applies a slightly more granular slab system. The rates start off slightly cheaper than WBSEDCL but become significantly more expensive in the highest slab.
🏢 CESC Kolkata Domestic Tariff (Monthly)
| Monthly Consumption Slab | Base Energy Rate (per unit) |
|---|---|
| 0 – 25 Units | ₹ 5.20 |
| 26 – 60 Units | ₹ 5.90 |
| 61 – 100 Units | ₹ 6.75 |
| 101 – 150 Units | ₹ 7.40 |
| 151 – 300 Units | ₹ 7.50 |
| Above 300 Units | ₹ 9.15 |
⚡ Monthly Fixed Charge: CESC domestic consumers pay a flat fixed charge of ₹50 per month.
Hidden Surcharges: Fuel Surcharge and Electricity Duty
The base rates listed above are not the final amount you pay. Both WBSEDCL and CESC add two mandatory charges to every domestic bill:
💸 Additional Charges on West Bengal Bills
- MVCA / Fuel Surcharge: ₹ 0.45 per unit. This variable charge helps the DISCOM recover the fluctuating cost of coal and power purchase.
- Electricity Duty: 6.0%. The state government levies a 6% tax on your total energy charge and fixed charge.
Because of the ₹0.45 per unit surcharge and the 6% duty, an AC household in Kolkata consuming 400 units does not just pay the ₹9.15 base rate for their top units. The effective rate for those top units actually crosses ₹10.15 per unit once surcharges and taxes are applied.
⚡ Calculate Your Exact WB Bill
Converting quarterly slabs to monthly, factoring in the ₹0.45 MVCA, and adding the 6% electricity duty makes manual calculation tedious. Use our free West Bengal electricity bill calculator. Just select CESC or WBSEDCL, enter your units, and see exactly how your bill is generated.
The Hasir Alo Scheme (Free Electricity)
The West Bengal Government introduced the Hasir Alo (Smile of Light) scheme to provide free electricity to extremely poor (lifeline) consumers. Under this scheme:
- Consumers with a connected load of 0.3 kW or less are eligible.
- If their consumption is 75 units or less per quarter (equivalent to 25 units per month), their electricity bill is completely waived off (₹0.00).
- This provides massive relief to rural households operating just a couple of LED bulbs and a fan.
Commercial and EV Tariffs in West Bengal
Businesses do not benefit from the cheap lower slabs available to domestic users. Instead, they are billed on a high flat rate.
Commercial (Non-Domestic) Connections
Flat Energy Rate
₹8.95/unit
Fixed Charge
₹150/kW/mo
Note: The ₹0.45 per unit fuel surcharge and 6% electricity duty apply on top of these commercial rates as well.
EV Charging Stations
To incentivize the adoption of electric vehicles in Kolkata and across the state, dedicated EV charging stations get a highly competitive flat rate without the burden of fixed monthly charges.
- Energy Rate: Flat ₹7.15 per unit
- Fixed Charge: Nil (₹0.00)
3 Strategies to Lower Your WBSEDCL / CESC Bill
| Strategy | Why it works in West Bengal |
|---|---|
| Defend the 300-unit mark (CESC) | In Kolkata, the rate jumps massively from ₹7.50 to ₹9.15 once you cross 300 units in a month. Keeping your AC at 25°C to stay under 300 units saves you significantly on those top-tier rates. |
| Understand WBSEDCL Quarterly Billing | If you receive a bill every 3 months, your slab limits are tripled (e.g., you get 450 units at the ₹6.70 slab). Ensure you budget for the large total amount that arrives at the end of the quarter. |
| Check your AC Inverter Tech | Because summer humidity in WB is extreme, old non-inverter ACs run their compressors 100% of the time. Upgrading to a 5-star inverter AC pays for itself quickly against the ₹9.15 CESC top slab. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 1 unit electricity price in West Bengal for domestic use?
It depends on your provider. For WBSEDCL, monthly equivalent rates start at ₹5.30 and go up to ₹8.50. For CESC (Kolkata), rates start at ₹5.20 and go up to a premium ₹9.15 for units over 300. In addition, a ₹0.45 fuel surcharge and 6% duty apply to both.
What is MVCA on my WBSEDCL or CESC bill?
MVCA stands for Monthly Variable Cost Adjustment. It is a fuel surcharge used by the DISCOMs to recover the fluctuating costs of buying coal and power. It currently adds approximately ₹0.45 to every single unit you consume.
How much Electricity Duty do I have to pay in West Bengal?
The West Bengal Government levies a flat 6% Electricity Duty on the sum of your base energy charges and fixed charges.
Is the Hasir Alo scheme available to everyone?
No. The Hasir Alo scheme provides fully free electricity (up to 75 units per quarter) only to “lifeline” consumers who have an officially sanctioned load of 0.3 kW or less. Average middle-class homes do not qualify.
Why does my WBSEDCL bill come every 3 months?
WBSEDCL has historically used a quarterly billing cycle for domestic rural and semi-urban consumers to reduce meter reading administrative costs. Your slab allowances (like the 25-unit first slab) are multiplied by 3 (becoming 75 units) on a quarterly bill, so you do not lose any slab benefits.
Are commercial rates higher in Kolkata?
Commercial users across the state pay a high flat rate of ₹8.95 per unit, plus a fixed charge of ₹150 per kW of load per month, in addition to the fuel surcharge and electricity duty.
Official Resource: For further details on tariff orders, you can visit the WBSEDCL Official Website or the CESC Official Website.
Disclaimer: The tariff rates, fixed charges, MVCA, and duty figures mentioned are based on the latest WBERC Tariff Orders. Electricity tariffs are subject to periodic revisions. Always refer to your official WBSEDCL or CESC bill for your exact billing details.
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