Prepaid meter recharge calculator, Bihar
How many units does a recharge buy on a Bihar prepaid smart meter? Work it out with today’s tariff and the prepaid rules, or find the recharge you need for your units.
- Rs 500 buys about 211 units
- Rebate: confirmed
- Runs on your phone
Work out your recharge
Example for Bihar
A home uses no units yet this month. Each recharge also pays the fixed charge for the month.
The first 125 units of the month cost nothing under the State scheme, as our calculator applies it. The recharge pays only for units above that, if the rule allows them.
| Recharge | Units | Average a unit |
|---|---|---|
| ₹200 | 136 | ₹1.47 |
| ₹500 | 211 | ₹2.36 |
| ₹1,000 | 336 | ₹2.97 |
For 200 units a month, the prepaid recharge is about ₹455. The post-paid bill is ₹469, so prepaid saves ₹14.
Today’s tariff for an urban home, single phase, 2 kW, with the prepaid rules above. Duty and fuel surcharge as the calculator includes them.
Prepaid rules in Bihar
- Prepaid rebate
- Prepaid homes get Rs 0.25 off each unit.
“a rebate of Rs.0.25/unit on energy charges shall be allowed. However, no any prompt payment rebate and / or online payment rebate will be allowed.”
BERC Tariff Order FY 2026-27, NBPDCL & SBPDCL (Case 50/2025 & 51/2025, 18.03.2026), Tariff Schedule general conditions (6), PDF p.552 (printed p.526)
- Time of day
- With a smart meter, the energy charge depends on the time of day. 9 am to 5 pm: 20% less; 5 pm to 11 pm: 10% more; 11 pm to 9 am: normal rate.
“All consumers (except agriculture) provided with smart meters (irrespective of their contract demand/sanctioned load).”
BERC Tariff Order FY 2026-27, NBPDCL & SBPDCL (Case 50/2025 & 51/2025, 18.03.2026), Tariff Schedule general conditions (13), PDF p.554 (printed p.528); decision PDF p.534
- Security deposit
“All Consumers, except for (i) BPL (Kutir Jyoti), (ii) prepaid smart meter connections and (iii) Central / State Government departments, shall pay security deposit”
- How the meter takes money
“प्रत्येक माह के पहली तारीख से जबतक 125 यूनिट तक का खपत होगा तबतक कोई दैनिक शुल्क की कटौती नहीं की जायेगी। [From the 1st of each month, no daily deduction until 125 units are consumed.]”
SBPDCL/NBPDCL FAQ on the 125-units-free scheme (Hindi, scanned; read from the page image), Q15, PDF p.5
How we work it out
- We price the month with today’s tariff for homes, from the calculator’s official rates.
- Then we apply the prepaid rules of the state order: a rebate, prepaid rates, and the time-of-day rates of smart meters.
- Units used earlier in the month decide the slab of the new units.
- Discoms take money each day, but the slabs count the whole month. Your daily balance can differ from our figures for the month.
Questions
How many units do I get for a Rs 500 recharge in Bihar?
At today’s tariff, about 211 units, if it is the first recharge of the month and it also pays the fixed charge. Later in the month, the units depend on the slab you are in.
Is prepaid cheaper than post-paid?
Prepaid homes get Rs 0.25 off each unit.
Why do I get fewer units late in the month?
The slabs count the units of the whole month. Units late in the month can fall in a higher slab, so each unit costs more.
Can I get a prepaid meter in Bihar?
Smart meters belong to your discom, NBPDCL. Ask NBPDCL if prepaid meters are available for homes in your area. Its app or website shows the balance and the recharges.