It's 10 pm. The car is plugged in, the AC is on, someone starts the geyser, and the whole house goes dark.
The charger isn't faulty. Your home simply asked for more power than your electricity connection is approved to supply. That approved limit is your sanctioned load, and it's the one number most EV buyers never check before ordering a home charger.
Quick answer: Your sanctioned load is printed on your electricity bill in kW. A 3.3 kW charger like Kazam Zip Pro usually works on a typical 5 kW home connection, especially when charging is scheduled for late night. A 7.4 kW charger like Kazam Zoom usually needs a sanctioned load of 8 to 10 kW, or a separate EV connection, which your electricity company can approve.
This isn't a rare problem. In June 2026, Kazam and the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) published a study of more than 80,000 home EV charger installations across Tier I, II and III cities. It found that nearly 45% of Indian homes need some electrical upgrade to charge an EV safely, and an adequate sanctioned load was the first item on its list of what a home needs.
The good news: this takes a few minutes to check, and both fixes are routine.
What is sanctioned load?
Sanctioned load is the maximum power, in kW, that your electricity company (DISCOM) has approved for your connection. Think of it as the width of the pipe into your home. Everything running at the same moment has to fit through it.
It isn't your monthly units. A home can use only 200 units a month and still overshoot its sanctioned load for 20 minutes every evening, when the AC, geyser and charger all run together. Sanctioned load is about what runs at once, not how much you use over the month.
How to find your sanctioned load
Pick up your latest electricity bill. Look for a line called Sanctioned Load, Connected Load or Contract Demand, usually near your consumer number at the top. It will say something like "5 kW" (sometimes "5 kVA").
Can't find it on the bill? Log in to your DISCOM's app or website with your consumer number. It's listed under your connection details.
Rough guide to what's typical:
• Older connections and small flats: 2 to 3 kW
• Typical 2 BHK flat: 3 to 5 kW
• Larger flats and independent houses: 5 to 10 kW, sometimes on three-phase supply
What happens if you go over it
Two things, depending on your connection. Your main breaker or the DISCOM's load limiter can trip, usually at the worst time: halfway through an overnight charge. And where you have a smart meter that records maximum demand, some DISCOMs charge a penalty when your recorded demand goes over the sanctioned figure. Check your DISCOM's terms; the rules differ by state.
Can your sanctioned load handle Zip Pro or Zoom?
The check is simple: add up everything that runs at the same time as the charger, add the charger itself, and compare the total with your sanctioned load. Leave about 10% spare so you aren't running at the edge every night.
What the chargers draw:
• Kazam Zip Pro: 3.3 kW (16 A)
• Kazam Zoom: 7.4 kW (32 A)
Typical appliance loads (check the label on yours, since models vary):
• 1.5 ton AC: 1.5 to 2 kW while the compressor runs, closer to 1 kW for an inverter AC once the room is cool
• Geyser: 2 to 3 kW
• Microwave or induction cooktop: 1 to 2 kW
• Washing machine: 0.5 to 2 kW, highest when it heats water
• Fridge: about 0.2 kW
• Fans, lights and TV together: about 0.5 kW
Here's how that works out in three typical homes.
Home 1: 2 BHK flat, 5 kW sanctioned, Kazam Zip Pro
• At 8 pm: AC 1.5 + microwave 1.2 + fridge 0.2 + fans, lights and TV 0.5 = 3.4 kW. Add Zip Pro's 3.3 kW and you're at 6.7 kW. Over the limit.
• After 11 pm: inverter AC about 1 + fridge 0.2 + fans 0.3 = 1.5 kW. Add Zip Pro and you're at 4.8 kW. Under the limit.
• Verdict: Zip Pro works on this home's existing connection, as long as charging starts after the evening rush. Zip Pro's scheduling in the Kazam app does exactly that: set it to start at 11 pm once, and it does it every night. A 40 km day's driving is back in the battery in about 2 hours.
• Watch out for: peak summer with two ACs running overnight. That adds roughly 1.5 kW, so a home like this should apply to go from 5 kW to 6 or 7 kW.
Home 2: the same flat, but with Kazam Zoom
• After 11 pm: 1.5 kW of household load plus Zoom's 7.4 kW = 8.9 kW. That's well over 5 kW, even with nothing else running.
• Verdict: Zoom needs a sanctioned load of at least 8 kW for night-only charging, and about 10 kW if you want to charge any time. The alternative is a separate EV connection (next section), which keeps the charger off your home's load entirely.
• Is it worth it? If your car accepts 7.2 kW and you drive 100 km or more a day, yes. Zoom fills a 45 kWh battery from 10% in about 6 hours instead of 13.5.
Home 3: independent house, 10 kW sanctioned, Kazam Zoom
• After 11 pm: 2 kW of household load plus Zoom's 7.4 kW = 9.4 kW. Just inside 10 kW.
• Verdict: Zoom runs on this connection as it is. Keep the geyser and washing machine off the charging hours, or use a timer for them.
Notice the pattern. Sanctioned load rarely rules out a home charger. It decides which one fits today, and what paperwork, if any, comes first.
How to increase your sanctioned load
If the numbers don't fit, you have two routes. Both are standard requests your DISCOM handles every day.
Route 1: raise the sanctioned load on your existing connection
- Confirm you need it. You need an enhancement for a 7.4 kW charger like Zoom. A 3.3 kW charger like Zip Pro doesn't need one.
- Apply online. Most large DISCOMs, including MSEDCL (Mahavitaran), BESCOM and BSES, accept load enhancement requests on their website or app. Keep your consumer number, ID proof, address proof and latest bill ready. Our earthing and dedicated circuits guide links to Mahavitaran's online load change form.
- Pay the charges. For a domestic LT-1 connection with BESCOM in Bengaluru, that's the per-kW enhancement charge, a ₹5,000 contract fee, and ₹10,000 more if you move to a three-phase connection with a smart meter. Pay against the DISCOM's official demand note.
- Allow for an inspection. If your meter or service cable can carry the new load, approval can come through in days. If they need upgrading, it takes longer. Above a certain load, some DISCOMs will ask you to move to three-phase supply. Both Kazam chargers run on single phase, so this is about your home's total load, not the charger.
Route 2: get a separate connection for EV charging
The Ministry of Power's 2024 guidelines for EV charging let you charge on your existing home connection or ask your DISCOM for a separate metered connection for EV charging, with an EV tariff where your state offers one.
A separate connection makes sense when:
• You're installing Zoom and don't want your household load and charger competing for the same kW
• You live in an apartment and want your charging billed separately from common areas or your flat
• Your state's EV tariff is lower than your household rate
The trade-off is a second application and meter cost, and in apartments, the society's approval for wiring to your parking spot. Our guide to home charging safety covers what to sort out with your RWA.
While you wait
Don't put off driving electric. The portable cable that came with your car, plugged into a proper 16 A point, or a Zip Pro, will charge your car overnight on most existing connections. Once the higher load is approved, moving up to Zoom only needs a heavier 32 A circuit to your parking spot.
Which Kazam charger fits your home's load?
Kazam Zip Pro (3.3 kW) fits if:
• Your sanctioned load is 5 kW or less and you'd rather not apply for more
• You can charge after the evening rush, using Zip Pro's app scheduling
• Your car's onboard charger is rated 3.3 kW, or you drive under about 80 km a day
• You also charge an electric scooter or bike at home
Kazam Zoom (7.4 kW) fits if:
• Your sanctioned load is 8 to 10 kW already, or you're ready to raise it or get a separate EV connection
• Your car accepts 7.2 kW or more of AC power
• You drive long distances daily, park for only a few hours, or share one charger between two cars
Not sure which side your home falls on? Take the [EV Home Readiness Quiz] or [book a home assessment] with Kazam Rangers, our trained technicians. They'll check your sanctioned load, earthing and wiring, and tell you which charger your home can take today. For a side-by-side on speed and features, read [7.4 kW vs 3.3 kW: which home charger does your car need?]
Frequently asked questions
What sanctioned load do I need for a 7.4 kW EV charger?
At least 8 kW if you charge only at night with light household use, and about 10 kW if you want to charge at any time. A separate EV connection avoids sharing your home's load altogether.
Can I run a 3.3 kW charger on a 5 kW sanctioned load?
Usually, yes, if charging runs after the evening peak. Schedule it for late night so it doesn't overlap with cooking, the geyser or several ACs.
Where do I find my sanctioned load?
On your electricity bill, listed as Sanctioned Load, Connected Load or Contract Demand, in kW or kVA. It's also in your DISCOM's app under your connection details.
Can I get a separate meter for EV charging at home?
Yes. Ministry of Power guidelines let you apply to your DISCOM for a separate metered connection for EV charging, with an EV tariff where your state offers one.
Does a higher sanctioned load increase my electricity bill?
Your energy charges depend on the units you use, not the sanctioned load. Some DISCOMs charge a fixed monthly amount per kW of sanctioned load, so that part of the bill can go up slightly. Check your DISCOM's tariff.
