What is kVAh billing?
kVAh billing charges for apparent energy, so a low power factor makes the billed quantity larger than the kWh. Also called kilovolt-ampere-hour billing, apparent energy billing.
- Plain English
- Official sources
- Bill terms A–Z
kVAh billing on your bill
A kVAh meter measures apparent energy. This includes the energy that only flows back and forth and does no work.
kVAh is equal to or more than kWh. kWh divided by kVAh is the power factor.
Example: a shop uses 900 kWh and 1,000 kVAh. At Rs 6 a unit, kVAh billing costs Rs 6,000. kWh billing would cost Rs 5,400.
Commissions use kVAh billing mostly for larger LT loads and HT consumers. In Maharashtra, it applies to loads of 20 kW and above.
Keep your power factor near 1. Capacitors or better motors reduce kVAh and so reduce the bill.
Related terms
Official sources
- UPERC Electricity Supply Code, 2005, Notification UPERC/Secy.-Supply Code/05-4528, 18-02-2005 (copy hosted by PVVNL), cl. 2.2(mm) 'Meter'
“an equipment used for measuring electrical quantities like energy in KWh, and or KVAh” - UPERC Electricity Supply Code, 2005, Notification UPERC/Secy.-Supply Code/05-4528, 18-02-2005 (copy hosted by PVVNL), cl. 2.2(rr) 'Power Factor'
“the ratio of watts to Volt-amperes, or the ratio of KWh to KVAh; as applicable” - CSERC Tariff Schedule for FY 2026-27 (CSPDCL tariff order, 24-06-2026), s.1.2.2 HV-2 table heading
“Energy Charge (Rs. per kVAh)”
Read on 17 October 2026. Your State regulator’s rules and your discom’s bill have the final word.