The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has issued an important order to speed up the process of linking Aadhaar numbers with Revenue Register (RR) numbers for irrigation pump (IP) sets across the state. The directive, issued on March 3, 2026, focuses on irrigation pump sets with a sanctioned load of 10 horsepower (HP) and below. The move aims to ensure that eligible farmers receive government subsidies without delays and that the beneficiary database remains accurate.

The Commission had earlier directed electricity distribution companies to complete Aadhaar linking in May 2023. However, electricity supply companies (ESCOMs) have been unable to achieve full compliance over the past two years. During public hearings, several consumers highlighted difficulties in updating their records due to administrative and procedural challenges.

Many farmers reported that their RR numbers are still registered under the names of deceased parents or grandparents. Legal heirs often face long delays in transferring land revenue documents, which have prevented them from updating electricity records. In addition, ESCOMs had earlier refused to process name changes if the electricity account had pending arrears, which further complicated the process for many rural consumers.

To address these issues, the Commission has now introduced more flexible guidelines. The order was issued by the Commission led by Chairman P. Ravi Kumar, along with members H. K. Jagadeesh and Jawaid Akhtar.

Under the revised guidelines, distribution companies are now allowed to transfer ownership of electricity connections to legal heirs without requiring the prior payment of outstanding arrears. The Commission has also simplified the documentation process by allowing consumers to submit a basic undertaking instead of waiting for formal land record transfers. In addition, the usual fee charged for name changes will not apply in such cases.

The Commission believes that removing these financial and administrative barriers will help farmers complete the Aadhaar linking process more easily. The decision is expected to help the state move closer to achieving 100 percent Aadhaar linkage for irrigation pump connections and ensure the timely delivery of subsidy benefits to eligible consumers.