How to split the electricity bill in a PG (free calculator)
By Giridhar Reddy, founder of Domvio, Bengaluru
Updated
To split a PG electricity bill, note the room's sub-meter reading at the start and end of the month, multiply the units used by the rate per unit, and add any shared charges. Divide the total between occupants, equally or by days stayed. The calculator below does the maths and writes a WhatsApp message for the room.
PG electricity bill calculator
This calculator needs JavaScript. To work it out by hand: units used = current reading minus previous reading. Room cost = units used × rate per unit, plus any shared charges. Each person's share = room cost ÷ number of occupants.
This is a free tool, not a Domvio feature
Domvio does not calculate or split electricity bills. Work out each person's share here and send it yourself. Nothing you type leaves your phone or computer.
Which method should a PG use to charge for electricity?
There are four common ways. Pick one, write it in your house rules before anyone moves in, and do not change it in the middle of someone's stay.
| Method | How it works | Works well when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat charge per bed | A fixed amount every month, either inside the rent or as a separate line, for example ₹500 per bed. | Rooms have no sub-meter, or usage is similar across rooms (no AC). | Summer bills can be far higher than the flat charge. Review the amount once a year, not every month. |
| Room sub-meter, split equally | Each room has its own meter. Units used × rate, divided by the number of people in the room. | Most rooms with stable occupants. It is simple and easy to check. | Someone who was away for two weeks pays the same as everyone else, which can start an argument. |
| Room sub-meter, split by days present | Same room cost, but each person pays in proportion to the days they stayed in the billing period. | Someone moved in or out mid-month, or was away by prior agreement. | Needs a clear record of days. Agree in advance what counts as "away" (for example, 5 or more nights in a row, told to you beforehand). |
| One main meter split across all beds | The whole building's bill divided by the number of occupied beds. | Small PGs with no sub-meters and no AC rooms. | Light users pay for heavy users. AC rooms make this unfair quickly. |
Our suggestion: put a sub-meter in every room, split equally by default, and use the days-present split only for move-ins, move-outs and absences agreed in advance. That keeps the monthly maths short and the exceptions fair.
How do you calculate the electricity bill for one PG room?
Here is a worked example for a triple-sharing room. The rate of ₹8 per unit is only an example, not a tariff. Use your own rate.
Find the units used
Previous reading 4,520, current reading 4,745. Units used = 4,745 − 4,520 = 225 units.
Multiply by the rate per unit
225 units × ₹8 = ₹1,800 of electricity for this room.
Add shared charges, if your house rules allow them
This room's share of corridor lights and the water pump is ₹150. Total to share = ₹1,800 + ₹150 = ₹1,950.
Split equally
₹1,950 ÷ 3 occupants = ₹650 each.
Or split by days present
Ravi and Kiran stayed all 30 days, Arjun moved in halfway and stayed 15. That is 75 person-days in total. Ravi pays ₹1,800 × 30 ÷ 75 = ₹720 plus ₹50 of shared charges = ₹770. Kiran also pays ₹770. Arjun pays ₹1,800 × 15 ÷ 75 = ₹360 plus ₹50 = ₹410. The three shares add up to ₹1,950.
In the days-present split, shared charges are still divided equally. Corridor lights and the pump run whether or not one person is away.
What rate per unit should a PG owner use?
Your electricity bill is not one flat rate. It usually has a fixed charge, energy charges that can change with how many units you use, and taxes or surcharges. So there are two fair ways to set the rate for occupants.
- Average rate from the main bill. Divide the main bill amount by the units on that bill. If the bill is ₹18,400 for 2,300 units, the average rate is ₹8 per unit. Use the "I know the total bill" option in the calculator if you want it to work this out for one meter.
- A fixed rate written in your house rules. For example, "₹9 per unit, reviewed every April". Occupants know the rate before they move in and you avoid recalculating every month.
Do not copy a per-unit rate from a website
Electricity tariffs are set by each state's regulator and change from time to time, and the rate also depends on your connection category. In Bengaluru, your supplier is BESCOM. Read the rate and category from your latest bill. If you are unsure whether your PG should be on a domestic or commercial connection, ask your electricity supply company in writing.
Do not add a margin on top of what you pay. Occupants compare the rate with their family's bill at home, and an inflated rate is the quickest way to lose their trust. If running the PG costs more, put it in the rent.
How to avoid electricity bill arguments in a PG
- Fix a reading date. Read every sub-meter on the same date each month, for example the last day, and say so in your house rules.
- Take a photo of each meter. The photo should show the reading clearly. Send it to the room's WhatsApp group with the calculation the same day.
- Share the working, not just the amount. "225 units × ₹8 + ₹150 common = ₹1,950, ₹650 each" gets far fewer questions than "Pay ₹650".
- Read the meter at move-in and move-out. A new occupant should not pay for units used before they arrived. Do the final reading with the person leaving, as part of your PG move-out checklist. Rent for a part month works the same way: see the prorated rent calculator.
- Write the method into the agreement. Your PG rental agreement should say how electricity is charged, the rate or how it is worked out, and when it is due.
- Treat AC rooms separately. An AC room should have its own sub-meter. Never spread AC usage across non-AC rooms.
- Give a receipt. Whether occupants pay electricity with rent or separately, give a receipt that shows the electricity amount. See our rent receipt format guide.
House rule: electricity (copy and edit)
Electricity 1. Each room has its own sub-meter. Readings are taken on the last day of every month, and a photo of the meter is shared in the room's WhatsApp group the same day. 2. The room's bill = units used × ₹__ per unit, plus the room's share of common charges (corridor lights, water pump) of ₹__. 3. The room's bill is split equally between the occupants. If you move in or out during the month, or are away for __ or more nights in a row and tell us beforehand, your share is worked out by days present. 4. Meter readings are taken with you on the day you move in and the day you move out. 5. Electricity is paid along with the next month's rent, by the __th.
Collecting rent and electricity from every bed
Electricity is easier to collect when rent is not a monthly chase as well. Domvio's PG management software gives every bed its own WhatsApp rent reminder with a UPI link, and sends a PDF receipt when the occupant pays. It does not add electricity charges for you, so send the calculator's message alongside. If you run a larger building, see hostel management software, or compare options in our list of PG management apps. To see how electricity and food costs change your margin, try the PG profit calculator.
Stop chasing rent from every bed
Domvio sends each occupant a WhatsApp rent reminder three days before the due date, takes payment straight to your UPI ID and sends a PDF receipt. Free during early access.
Domvio collects the monthly rent from every PG bed on WhatsApp, with a UPI link to your own account and a PDF receipt for each payment. Free during early access.
Try Domvio freeFrequently asked questions
How is the electricity bill calculated in a PG?
With room sub-meters, you take the room's units used (current reading minus previous reading), multiply by a rate per unit, add a share of common charges, and divide the total between the room's occupants. Without sub-meters, the simplest fair option is a flat amount per bed.
Is it fair to split the PG electricity bill by days present?
Yes, for people who moved in or out during the month, or who were away for an agreed number of nights and told you beforehand. Write the rule into your house rules first, or every month becomes a negotiation.
How do I split electricity if my PG has no sub-meters?
Either charge a flat amount per bed and review it once a year, or divide the main bill by the number of occupied beds. If you have AC rooms, fit sub-meters for them first, because spreading AC usage across everyone quickly leads to disputes.
What rate per unit should I charge PG occupants?
Use the average rate from your own bill (bill amount divided by units) or a fixed rate written in your house rules. Do not copy a rate from a website, because tariffs differ by state and connection type and are revised from time to time.
Should an occupant who is leaving pay for electricity?
Yes, up to their move-out day. Take a final meter reading with them, work out their share by days present, and include it in the full-and-final settlement. See our guide to the PG notice period and move-out checklist.
Does Domvio split electricity bills?
No. Domvio handles rent: WhatsApp reminders, UPI payments to your own account and PDF receipts for every bed. Use this free calculator for electricity and send the amount yourself.
Stop chasing rent every month
Domvio reminds your tenants on WhatsApp, takes rent straight to your UPI ID and sends PDF receipts automatically. Free during early access.