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You have moved in. The fridge is humming, the geyser works, and the first electricity bill arrives with the previous owner's name printed on top. You pay it, because the lights need to stay on. Then the water bill comes, also in their name.
Nothing breaks if you leave it like this for a month or two. But leave it for years and you have a problem: any refund of the security deposit goes to someone else, disputes over old dues land on you, and when you sell, your buyer will ask why the connections are not in your name. Here is how to move them in Bengaluru, as of November 2026.
Get the order right
Electricity and water companies now look at the city's property records to confirm who owns a home. So the steps go in this order:
- Register the sale deed on Kaveri.
- Get the khata (e-Khata) transferred to your name with your city corporation.
- Pay property tax in your name.
- Then apply to BESCOM for electricity and BWSSB for water.
Trying the utilities before the khata is updated is the most common reason applications get rejected.
Before you take possession: check the bills
Unpaid electricity or water dues stay with the connection, not with the person. If the seller leaves arrears, you inherit them, and neither company will change the name until the account shows zero dues. So before registration:
- Ask the seller for the last three paid electricity and water bills.
- Note the RR number (the account number on BESCOM and BWSSB bills) and the meter number.
- Take a photo of each meter showing the reading on the day you get the keys.
- Ask the seller to sign a short consent letter for the transfer, including the security deposit. Not every route asks for it, but it saves a trip if yours does.
Electricity: BESCOM name transfer
Documents
- Registered sale deed
- e-Khata or khata certificate in your name
- Latest property tax receipt
- Latest electricity bill with zero arrears
- Aadhaar or PAN
- A clear photo of the meter showing the reading and RR number
- An indemnity bond and a power supply agreement (signed online with Aadhaar e-sign, or on stamp paper if you apply in person)
Three ways to apply
- Online through BESCOM, using the name-change option and your account ID or RR number. Inside city limits, BESCOM's system can now pull your ownership details from the e-Khata records, and some owners receive an SMS link after their khata is updated. You verify with Aadhaar OTP, e-sign, pay and track the request.
- Through the Seva Sindhu portal, the Karnataka government's services site, under the BESCOM name change service.
- In person at the BESCOM sub-division office for your area, with originals and copies.
A junior engineer reviews the application and may visit to check the meter. Once approved, your name appears from the next billing cycle. Online routes have been taking from a few days to about a month, and in-person routes one to four weeks.
Fees
The name change fee itself is small for a home connection. With stamp papers or e-stamping for the indemnity bond and supply agreement, owners typically report a total between a few hundred rupees and about ₹1,300, depending on the route. The payment page shows the current amount.
The security deposit
Every connection carries a security deposit, held against the account holder's name. The transfer moves the connection and the deposit from the old owner to you. That matters later: if you ever close the connection or the deposit is adjusted, it is credited to whoever is on the account. Settle with the seller whether the price you paid includes that deposit (usually it does).
Water: BWSSB name transfer
Independent houses and villas with their own meter
If your home has its own BWSSB connection, you apply for the name transfer online through the board's citizen services, or at the local BWSSB service station.
- Fill in the transfer form with the RR number and your property ID.
- Upload the sale deed, khata, latest paid water bill, ID proof and a meter photo. Some offices also ask for an affidavit or indemnity on stamp paper.
- An assistant engineer may inspect the connection.
- BWSSB issues a demand note with the fee. Pay it within the time shown, usually about ten days, and check the portal yourself rather than waiting for a reminder.
- The new name appears on later bills, usually within a few weeks.
The fee for a home connection is generally a few hundred rupees. Check the demand note for the exact amount.
Apartments with a bulk connection
Most apartment complexes have one bulk BWSSB connection in the name of the builder or the residents' association. Water is then shared through internal meters and billed in your maintenance. In this case you do not apply to BWSSB yourself. Instead:
- Give the association a copy of your sale deed and khata so their records show you as owner.
- Confirm the reading on your flat's water meter on handover day so the seller pays for their share.
- Ask whether the bulk connection is in the association's name yet. If it is still with the builder years after handover, that is something the association should fix.
New flats from a builder
New buildings often run on a temporary construction connection before individual meters are installed. Ask the builder when your flat's permanent BESCOM meter will be in your name and who pays the deposit and meter charges (this is often listed as an extra on the cost sheet). Get the RR number for your flat before you move in. If the builder applies on your behalf, you still need to check the bill shows your name.
What it looks like in practice
Take a typical resale purchase. You register a 2BHK in early January. Before registration, you notice the seller's last electricity bill shows ₹2,400 unpaid, so it is cleared from the final payment. The e-Khata moves to your name by late January. You apply to BESCOM online the same week, pay a little over ₹1,000 including e-stamping, and the bill arrives in your name by March. Water is a bulk connection, so you simply hand the association copies of the deed and khata. Total effort: a couple of evenings and some scans.
A quick checklist
- Sale deed registered and e-Khata in your name
- Seller's bills cleared to zero, with receipts
- Meter photos and readings taken on handover day
- BESCOM name transfer applied, reference number saved
- BWSSB transfer applied, or association records updated
- Piped gas, internet and other services moved to your name
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer the connection if the seller has disappeared or the builder will not give an NOC?
Usually yes. With proof of ownership, a khata in your name, an indemnity bond and a bill with zero dues, BESCOM can process the change without the earlier owner's consent. Expect a closer check by the officials.
Is there a deadline to transfer the name?
There is no strict deadline, but do it within a few months. Delays only add complications, such as old dues or a seller who becomes harder to reach.
Do I need a new meter?
No. A name transfer keeps the same meter and RR number. Shifting the meter or increasing the sanctioned load is a separate request with its own charges.
Does this apply outside Bengaluru city limits?
The steps are similar in panchayat and town areas, but the fully online, khata-linked route may not be available there yet. Expect to visit the local office.
If you are buying a home and want help keeping track of the paperwork after registration, from khata to utilities, Skyros Estates can guide you through the steps.
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