Electricity bill calculator for tenants

Meter rent is the small monthly charge your electricity distribution company adds for the meter itself — the device is owned by the DISCOM and rented to the premises, so it appears as a separate line on the bill whether you used any units or not. It is typically a few rupees to a few tens of rupees a month, and the exact figure is fixed by the state regulator and varies by meter type: a single-phase domestic meter costs less than a three-phase or a smart meter. It is not the same thing as the amount a tenant pays a landlord for electricity. A tenant on a sub-meter normally pays for the units they consumed at the agreed rate; whether they also share the DISCOM's meter rent and fixed charges depends on what the rent agreement says, so it is worth writing that down rather than arguing about it later.

Whoever the rent agreement says. The DISCOM bills it to the registered connection holder, which is usually the landlord, so by default it is the landlord's charge. Many landlords pass it on by adding the fixed charges to the tenant's share, and that is perfectly normal — but only if it was agreed in writing before the tenancy started. If your agreement is silent on fixed charges and meter rent, the safer reading is that the tenant pays only for the units they consumed.

Take this month's sub-meter reading, subtract last month's reading, and that difference is the units the tenant consumed. Multiply those units by the per-unit rate you agreed. So a meter moving from 1,240 to 1,418 at ₹8 a unit is 178 units and ₹1,424. Add the rent, add any fixed charges the agreement makes the tenant's responsibility, and that is the total. Photograph the meter each month with the reading visible — it ends almost every dispute before it starts. The calculator on this page does the arithmetic once you enter both readings and the rate.

Subtract the previous meter reading from the current reading to get the units consumed, then multiply by your per-unit rate. For example, if the meter moved from 1,200 to 1,350 units and your rate is ₹8 per unit, the tenant used 150 units and the electricity charge is 150 × ₹8 = ₹1,200. Add this to the base rent and any fixed charges to get the total payable.

The fairest approach is to charge the same per-unit rate your electricity provider (DISCOM) bills you — commonly in the ₹7–₹10 per unit range depending on your state and slab. Many states expect landlords to charge at actual tariff and not add a markup, so check your latest bill for the exact rate and use that.

If several tenants share one meter, calculate the total electricity charge from the meter readings, then divide it by the number of tenants for an equal split. This calculator has an optional 'split between tenants' field that shows each person's share. For fairness where usage differs a lot, sub-meters per room are better than an equal split.

A sub-meter charges each tenant for exactly what they use, which is the most transparent and dispute-free option. A flat monthly electricity charge is simpler but can feel unfair when usage varies (for example, air-conditioning in summer). For most rentals, a sub-meter with a per-unit rate is recommended.

In many Indian states, landlords are expected to charge tenants at the actual per-unit tariff billed by the electricity provider, without adding a profit margin. Rules vary by state, so it is safest to charge the rate shown on your own electricity bill. Treat this as general information, not legal advice.

Yes. Instead of doing this by hand each month, you can message the RentStalk AI agent on WhatsApp with the meter readings and it calculates rent plus electricity, sends the bill to the tenant, and records the payment — in your own language.