Bengaluru apartment residents face day-long power cut over builder’s dues

Bescom cut power to 150 Bengaluru flats at Solaris over ₹2 lakh dues from 30 vacant builder-owned units, sparking resident outrage and legal action

Residents of the Disha Loharuka Solaris apartment complex in Gottigere, Bengaluru, were left without electricity for nearly a full day after the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) disconnected power to the entire building. The outage, which occurred on December 24, 2025, was triggered by unpaid dues of around ₹2 lakh linked to 30 vacant flats still under the builder’s name, despite most occupied flats having cleared their bills.

What Happened
Bescom officials cut supply to the high-rise on Bannerghatta Road citing long-pending arrears. The decision affected nearly 150 households, sparking outrage among residents who argued that only the defaulting flats should have been penalized. Many took to social media to highlight the issue, calling the blanket disconnection unfair and avoidable.

Residents’ Complaints
Residents alleged that a junior engineer acted arbitrarily in disconnecting the entire complex. Binay Biswal, one of the residents, said repeated complaints failed to bring immediate relief. Another resident, Bhaskar, described the move as “atrocious and illegal,” noting that the defaulters could easily be identified through their meter numbers. The residents demanded that Bescom isolate the defaulting flats rather than punish compliant households.

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Builder’s Absence
The crisis has been compounded by the builder’s alleged disappearance. According to residents, the builder failed to transfer electricity connections to individual owners or the apartment association. Murtuza Johar, another resident, explained that the builder had collected maintenance charges for two years but withheld crucial documents such as occupancy and completion certificates. This has left homeowners in a legal and administrative limbo, forcing them to file a case against the builder.

Bescom’s Stand
Bescom officials confirmed that dues had been pending for over a year. Assistant Executive Engineer Venkatesh Sagar stated that new owners are expected to transfer connections to their names, which had not been done in this case. Another official, Venkatesh CD, said the association had sought 15 days to clear the dues but insisted that partial disconnection of only the vacant flats was not possible until the arrears were settled.

Lessons for Homeowners
The incident underscores the importance of transferring utility connections promptly, avoiding master billing systems, and ensuring builders provide mandatory documents. Forming a strong residents’ association, experts say, is crucial to safeguard homeowners’ rights and negotiate effectively with utility providers.

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