Smart meter users in Bihar to pay up to 20% premium during peak hours

Around 8.7 million electricity consumers in Bihar using smart prepaid meters (SPMs) will face a differential tariff structure from April 1, with power usage during evening peak hours attracting a 10%–20% premium, while daytime consumption will fetch rebates of up to 20%.

The move follows the introduction of time of day (ToD) tariff by the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) as part of the 2026–27 tariff order. Notably, the regulator has not approved any overall hike in electricity tariffs across consumer categories.