The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has imposed fines on residents who are renting out their flats as private lodges via booking apps, citing violations of electricity tariff conditions.

During inspections in Kazhakootam, the Anti Power Theft Squad (APTS) found three consumers charging ₹4,000 for two hours of stay, which falls under the higher-tariff commercial category.Flats are classified as domestic, while private lodges fall under Low Tension VII (Commercial), leading to higher electricity costs.The KSEB plans to expand inspections across Kerala to address similar violations.

The State Electricity Regulatory Commission had previously noted that many houses owned by NRIs and high-net-worth individuals remain underutilized, but details on their connected load and consumption were lacking.The KSEB is now tasked with providing section-wise data on mostly unoccupied properties.This move aims to ensure fair tariff compliance and prevent misuse of the domestic electricity category for commercial purposes.