Bengaluru: Energy minister D K Shivakumar said on Monday, Occupancy Certificate and building plan sanction is compulsory to obtain permanent electricity connections from ESCOMS.

The decision was taken in the recent review meeting held in regards to preventing the violation of building by-laws, said minister to media persons.

A similar move had been initiated by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board(BWSSB) in respect of water connections.

The escoms have been directed to provide power connection only when the property owners submit a NOC or an OC from the civic agancies. The condition is not applicable to buildings on sites measuring 8,000 square feet and going up to a maximum height of 50 feet, said energy minister.

For now, if the OC is not furnished, temporary power connections are being provided based on the licence for construction and building plan approved by the Urban Development Department. If temporary connections are to be made permanent, the building owners must furnish occupancy certificates, he added.

The deadline fixed for the regularisation ended on December 31, 2014. While some builders who have obtained temporary connections have sought more time to provide the OC, a decision on the extension will be taken shortly, he said. Violators will have to bear a penalty in the form of a 25 per cent higher tariff cost on the energy consumed.