The state government announced that people can apply for permanent electricity connections without occupancy certificates (OC) previously required. The order of June 22 grants a 15 day window under a one time exemption for owners to submit applications. The directive applies to structures completed on or before May 31, 2026, within the limits of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and in municipal and urban local body jurisdictions in panchayat areas. Residential buildings described as ground plus three floors (G+3) or stilt parking plus four floors (S+4) measuring 2400 sqft with up to 20 per cent deviation are eligible to seek permanent connections without OC. The measure also exempts farm structures including houses owned by farmers, silk rearing units, cattle sheds, stores for farm equipment and farmhouses. The exemption is intended as administrative relief for owners who completed construction but lacked formal clearance. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that permanent connections should not be granted without OC, and the state had halted clearance of applications from April 4, 2025. The recent order is aimed at clearing the backlog while maintaining oversight through field verification and documentation. Owners who used temporary power on or before May 31, 2026, may apply within the 15 day window and must provide geo tagged photographs for verification, with officers recording date, time and location before uploading material to the centralised CCB software. Revenue and GBA officials said around three lakh applications awaited clearance, including one lakh in Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) limits. That equates to about 0.3 million (mn) applications in total, of which 0.1 million (mn) fall under BESCOM. Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) will verify submissions made before May 31, 2026, with field officers required to capture geo tagged photos in the presence of owners and upload inspection reports. Owners of buildings completed on or before May 31, 2026, without prior connection must apply at the sub division office within 15 days so that inspections and final reports can be completed and systematic clearance effected under the one time measure.