How to get Electricity Meter ownership / name change in Bangalore

This year, I took up the task to get my Electricity Meter changed from my builder's name to myself. Reason being its one the essentially government address proofs for your house which is used everywhere. Most folks in my apartment went the normal path of getting an agent to do it for a fees for Rs 1200 - 1500. One or two had given a try themselves and succeeded. As my friend Vinay and myself are practically free in the weekends so wanted to give it a try. If it worked then fine, else the agent is always there. It was our first Rendezvous with the famed Indian bureaucracy - and I wanted to have a feel of it in Bangalore. Even if we failed, we would have a experience and will know things how they are supposed to be done (and what not gets done).

So first went through online stuff like blogs and group mails to get as much information we can but later realized that there's more that not written anywhere hence this article. I stay close to Marathalli so most of the information is localized. There will be similar arrangements in other localities of Bangalore as well. So here is the story:

1. Weekend 1 :: Information gathering
   We went to the local Bescom office at Chowdeshwari Temple Road, Marathalli (google map) and talked to the junior engineer about our request. Surprised to see that he was pretty courteous and explained the basic forms to fill up but they don't have the forms themselves. We had to get it from a shop nearby named Bhavani Electricals at Tulsi Theater Road (google map ) . From there we got:
1. BESCOM Transfer of Electrical Connections (Form 1)
2. BESCOM Power Supply Agreement for Low Tension Electrical Energy (eStamp Paper with a stamp of Rs 200)
3. BESCOM Indemnity Bond (eStamp Paper with a stamp of Rs 100)
For the 3 forms, the shopkeeper took a total of Rs 350 (Rs 50 as his fees)


2. Weekend 2 :: File Preparation and visit to local BESCOM office
   We filled in the forms and along with it we took:
1. NOC from our builder
2. Latest electricity Bill
3. Id Proof : Driving License copy will do
4. Address Proof : Bank certified / Notarized copy of the Sale Deed (* this has a story described later)
5. Photo of the electricity meter from outside and inside (else the engineer will ask to visit the premises to confirm the meter installed)
With all this we went to the Marathalli office but bad luck. It was 2nd Saturday and government offices were closed on the day. We saw some folks in the office and went to talk to them. They were most likely agents themselves and they discouraged us a lot that so and so proofs are missing and it requires this and that and you will need a agent. Getting back home, we were almost ready to hand it over to the agent but as it goes - we could not get hold of the agent !!!


3. Weekend 3 :: Junior Engineer's approval - To BESCOM S-7 office
   This weekend we made some nice progress and felt its almost done but had some more steps to go. We met with the Junior Engineer at the Marathalli office. He went through our forms and proofs and then signed on the backside of the "BESCOM Transfer of Electrical Connections (Form 1). He asked for the last meter reading and that was the only information required. With the first official step complete, we went to the BESCOM S-7 office and Old Airport Road (google map ). As it was end of month the workload was high, so the officials in there asked to come next Thursday. Hmm.. not sweet, still we moved. The account manager Mr. Manohar asked us to put all document in a standard cardboard file as plastic files don't work in government offices - new learning.


4. Weekend 4 :: Account Manager's approval and submission of fileInstead of Thursday, we went the next weekend. Initially the account manager asked us to wait. We waited for some 20 mins and then he took our file for review. Mine had a additional issue that I had the original sale deed and its photocopy and I thought he will attest it. He first asked to get it done from the notary but later with some request, he finally agreed to do it himself and I thank Mr. Manohar for that. It kind of brought some belief in me - ki sarkaari kaam late hota hai magar hota hai aur sab chor nahi hain (government work takes time but it happens and not all are black sheep). With that, the file went to a clerk who said, that it late for today, come on Monday to raise a demand of Rs 100 for the name change.


5. Next Monday :: Demand Raised
   With no mood to delay things further, we went Monday sharp at 10 AM when offices open. Got hold of the clerk who had a lot of files with him. Had to search for our files and got them. He put it a request for Rs 100 which we paid standing in a line for another 20 mins. With the receipt in hand, we put it in the file and asked the clerk when will the name change show up in the BESCOM portal. The reply was around 2 weeks.


6. Weekend :: Address CorrectionDuring the week, the name change happened in the BESCOM portal. Really fast but the address update was not there. The whole purpose was to have a address proof and we had just the name. So we went to the BESCOM office for address update. Luckily this happened from the helpdesk itself. The lady logged in to the portal and updated the address a put in the form. All good.

Now I have a critical government address proof which took around a month to get without any outside help.