How to read your CESC (Kolkata) electricity bill
This guide explains the front and the back of a CESC bill. It shows the consumer number, customer ID, month code, rebate and each charge. All meanings come from the CESC booklet “Understand your monthly bill”.
- Redrawn from CESC’s booklet
- 26 fields, front and back
- Official sources only
Independent guide. ebbillcalc is not part of CESC Ltd, Kolkata. CESC did not approve this guide. The bill below is our own drawing. All names, numbers and amounts are invented. The layout follows the official CESC sample (CESC “Understand your monthly bill” booklet, sample bill of July 2018). The 2018 sample does not show FPPAS. The CESC FAQ says that FPPAS applies now, so we added it. Each explanation links to the CESC document that it comes from.
Quick answers
Where is my consumer number?
It is at the top of the front page, next to the bill month. The back page also shows it. See #2 on the sample
Consumer No. or Customer ID?
The bill shows the 2 numbers. Each number identifies you. Give them when you contact CESC. See #2, #7 on the sample
What is the last date to pay?
It is the due date. If you pay by this date, you get a rebate of 1%. See #11, #10 on the sample
How much do I pay?
Pay the net amount payable. Net amount = gross amount − rebate. See #12 on the sample
Watch: how to read a CESC bill
A short video (55 seconds). It has no sound. The captions explain each field.
Your bill at a glance
How the bill adds up
The CESC booklet gives Gross amount = energy charges + MVCA, fixed charges and meter rent + Government duty and adjustments. The CESC FAQ adds FPPAS.
From meter reading to payment
- Meter readingCESC reads meters at intervals of 28 to 32 days.
- Bill dateCESC makes the bill.
- Due datePay by this date to get a rebate of 1%. Pay online for 1% more.
- After the due dateYou do not get the rebate. A delayed payment surcharge (DPS) can come in adjustments.
Source: CESC FAQ
How the month code is made
07Month (July)18Year (2018)1Check digitThis is the example in the CESC booklet.
The CESC bill, field by field
Move the bill to the left to see all of it.
Front
Back
- 1
Bill month
This is the month of the bill.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
This is the month for which the bill is generated.
- 2
Consumer No.
This number is for your connection only. Give it each time you contact CESC.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
A unique number specific to a consumer which must be referred to while communicating with us.
- 3
Month code
This code shows the month and year of the bill, and a check digit. The CESC example: in 07181, 07 is July, 18 is 2018 and 1 is the check digit.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
The last digit indicates the check digit of that particular month.
- 4
Bill date
This is the date when CESC made the bill.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
The date this bill has been generated.
- 5
RTGS / NEFT details
Use these account details to pay by RTGS or NEFT.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
Account details to pay the bill through RTGS/NEFT.
- 6
Name and address
This is the name and address of the consumer.
- 7
Customer ID
This number is for you as a customer. Give it each time you contact CESC. CESC has a “Know your customer ID” page.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
A unique number specific to a customer which must be referred to while communicating with us.
- 8
Consumer type
This is your tariff category, for example domestic.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
Tariff category of the Consumer.
- 9
Gross amount
This is the bill amount before the rebate. It includes the energy charges, MVCA, fixed or demand charges, meter rent, Government duty and adjustments.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
This is the Gross Amount of the bill.
- 10
Rebate
If you pay by the due date, you get a rebate of 1%. The rebate does not include meter rent, taxes, duties, levies and arrears.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
The Rebate given for Payment of the bill within due date.
- 11
Due date
Pay by this date to get the rebate.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
Consumers are requested to pay the bill within Due Date to avail of the Rebate.
- 12
Net amount payable
This is the amount that you pay. Net amount = gross amount − rebate.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
This is the Net Amount payable of the bill.
- 13
Bill details
This table shows each part of the bill amount. “Other terms” below explains each line.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
This gives breakup of the Bill Amount.
- 14
Units consumed
These are all the units that you used in the bill period.
- 15
Reading dates
These are the dates of the current and previous readings. CESC reads meters at intervals of 28 to 32 days.
Source: CESC FAQ
- 16
Last payment
This shows your last payment.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
This gives the details of Last Payment made.
- 17
6 months’ consumption
This chart shows your units for the last 6 months. It compares them with the same months last year.
- 18
Sanctioned load
This is the load that CESC approved for your connection.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
This indicates the Sanctioned Load.
- 19
Security deposit
This is the security deposit that CESC keeps.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
This indicates the Security Deposit held.
- 20
Meter details
This table shows the meter number, rate and phase, previous and present readings, units and energy charges.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
This gives details of Meter of the Consumer.
- 21
Your regional office
This is the address of your CESC regional office.
- 22
Bill calculations
This table shows how CESC calculated the bill for this month.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
Details of bill calculation for the specific month.
- 23
Rate table
This table shows how CESC calculated the energy charge, slab by slab.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
The Rate table which indicates how the energy charge on the Units consumed is calculated.
- 24
Customer account manager
This shows the name and contact of your customer account manager.
- 25
Lodging a grievance
This tells you how to make a complaint to CESC.
- 26
Payment methods and cash offices
This shows the ways to pay, and the cash offices with their working hours.
Other terms you may see
These lines can also be on a CESC bill. The explanations come from CESC documents.
- Energy charges
CESC charges the units of the bill period at the tariff rate for each slab.
Source: CESC: Understand your monthly bill (PDF)
Total energy consumed in units during a billing period, is charged as per the tariff rates prevailing against the various slabs
- Fixed / demand charge
CESC charges it for each kVA of sanctioned load. The tariff order gives the rate.
Source: CESC FAQ
Fixed Charge - @Rate specified in Tariff Order on per KVA of sanctioned load
- Meter rent
This is a fixed rate. It changes with the type of meter.
Source: CESC FAQ
Meter Rent - Fixed Rates depending on the type of meter
- FPPAS
This is the fuel and power purchase adjustment surcharge. The CESC FAQ gives the current rate. Your bill shows the rate for this month.
Source: CESC FAQ
FPPAS - Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge
- Government duty
CESC collects this duty for the Government. The rates change with category and slab.
Source: CESC FAQ
Government Duty - Category wise slab wise rates levied on behalf of the Government
- Adjustments
This line includes the delayed payment surcharge (DPS) and other debits or credits.
Source: CESC FAQ
Adjustments - includes DPS, Debit / Credit adjustments etc
- Timely payment rebate and e-payment
The CESC FAQ gives the rebate as 1% of the energy charge, fixed charge and FPPAS. If you pay online by the due date, you get 1% more. In the FAQ example, the net amount for e-payment is less than the net amount by this 1%.
Source: CESC FAQ
When you pay online, on or before the due date, you get 1% additional rebate.
- Notice bill
A bill is an ordinary bill or a notice bill. A notice bill includes all the arrears of the past months.
Source: CESC FAQ
Bills can be of 2 types. One is an ordinary bill, and the other one is a notice bill.
- Average (meter rental) bill
Sometimes a reading is very different from your usual units. CESC then examines the reading and sends an average bill. The bill shows the reason.
Source: CESC FAQ
The actual reason is also mentioned in the monthly consumption bill face.
Labels CESC does not explain
These labels are on the bill. We did not find an official explanation for them.
- MVCA: shown only as an example line, not defined
- The Indicators box on the back
- How the customer ID and consumer number relate
- Demand charges for LT beyond the per-kVA rate
We explain a line only if CESC or the regulator explains it. If you have a question about one of these lines, ask your section office or call the helpline on the bill.
Pay or see your bill online
These are official CESC channels only.
- CESC quick bill pay
- View or print your bill
- Customer login
- Know your customer ID
- WhatsApp: send “Hi” to 91677 77776From CESC’s FAQ
Pay only on official channels. ebbillcalc does not ask for your consumer number. ebbillcalc does not take payments. Some messages say that your power will be cut tonight. They tell you to call a number or install an app. Do not do this.
Check the amount
CESC has its own tariff. WBERC sets it separately from the WBSEDCL tariff. Our West Bengal calculator and checker are for WBSEDCL areas only. They give an incorrect amount for a CESC bill, so we do not link them here. To follow the calculation, use the bill calculations and the rate table on the back of your bill (#22, #23).
Questions
What is the difference between Consumer No. and Customer ID on a CESC bill?
The bill shows 2 numbers. The consumer number is for the connection. The customer ID is for you as a customer. Give them when you contact CESC. CESC has a “Know your customer ID” page.
What is the month code, for example 07181, on a CESC bill?
It shows the bill month (07, July), the year (18, 2018) and a check digit (1).
How much rebate do I get if I pay a CESC bill on time?
You get 1% if you pay by the due date. The rebate does not include meter rent, taxes, duties, levies and arrears. If you pay online by the due date, you get 1% more.
What is FPPAS on a CESC bill?
It is the fuel and power purchase adjustment surcharge. The 2018 CESC sample does not show it. The CESC FAQ says that it applies now.
Why did CESC send me an average bill?
Your reading was very different from your usual units. CESC examines the reading and sends an average bill. The bill shows the reason.
What is a notice bill?
A notice bill includes all the arrears of the past months.
Sources
We read the official documents on 15 October 2026. Bill layouts can change. If your bill looks different, tell us. Cover your name, address and consumer number first.