How to cut your electricity bill by ₹600-1,200 a month

Electricity is the most negotiable Indian household bill — not with your discom, but with your own equipment. The average 3-BHK in any tier-1 metro is paying ₹600-1,200 a month more than it needs to, and the fixes are almost all one-time.

Step 1: Read your bill

Find the slab structure. In most states, the per-unit price doubles or triples once you cross 200 or 300 units. Knowing where you sit on that staircase changes everything — you should know which appliance pushes you across a slab.

Step 2: The seven changes worth making

• Switch to LED on every bulb — saves about 80% per bulb vs. CFL or incandescent.
• Set the water heater (geyser) timer to run only 20 minutes before use.
• AC at 24-26°C, not 18°C. Every degree below 24 adds about 6% to consumption.
• Clean AC filters monthly. Dirty filters reduce efficiency by up to 15%.
• Use a smart plug or switched extension to kill standby drain on the TV and set-top box (₹50-100/month saved).
• Unplug chargers when not in use — vampire-load is small but real.
• Schedule washing machine and dishwasher for off-peak slabs if your discom uses time-of-day tariffs.

Step 3: Should you go solar?

If you own your roof and your state allows net metering (most do now), residential solar pays back in 4-6 years. Central and state government subsidies bring system costs down meaningfully — but only via empanelled vendors. Don't trust door-to-door quotes.