Sanctioned Load vs Connected Load
Sanctioned load is the capacity your DISCOM has approved for your connection; connected load is the sum of everything actually installed. Consuming beyond sanction invites penalties and regularisation — and the gap silently widens every time equipment is added.
Why it matters on an MEPF project
Factories grow one machine at a time; the sanction stays where the original application left it. The mismatch surfaces in DISCOM inspections, penal billing for exceeding sanction, and stalled processes (new connections, net metering, HT conversion) where declared and actual loads are compared. It also drives rooftop-solar caps in many states, where permissible plant size references your sanctioned load.
The fix is administrative, not electrical: a load-enhancement application with an honest connected-load schedule. The check that precedes it — metering the real maximum demand versus the paper sanction — routinely finds the opposite problem too: sanction (and fixed charges) far above real demand, which is money returned by a reduction application.
How it's specified in practice
| Parameter | Typical / working position | Governing reference |
|---|---|---|
| Sanctioned load | DISCOM-approved kW/kVA on your agreement | DISCOM supply code |
| Connected load | Sum of installed equipment ratings | site survey |
| Recorded MD | What the meter actually peaks at | meter data |
| Solar linkage | Net-metering caps often reference sanctioned load | state net-metering regulations |
Common mistakes
- Adding loads for years without one enhancement application.
- Declaring connected load from memory instead of a walked survey.
- Paying fixed charges on a sanction double your real demand.
- Discovering the mismatch inside a solar or HT application timeline.
Related on this site
One of 68 working definitions in the MEPF & solar engineering glossary. The buying side of the same decisions is in the buyer's guides; the numbers are in the calculators.
Frequently asked
What happens if I exceed my sanctioned load?
Penal demand charges per your tariff order, possible notices, and friction in every future application. Regularise via enhancement — it is paperwork plus fees, cheaper than penalties.
Does sanctioned load limit my solar plant size?
In many states, yes — net-metering rules cap plant capacity relative to sanctioned/contracted load. Our solar-vs-sanctioned-load calculator shows where you stand before you apply.
Standards referenced: DISCOM supply codes · state net-metering regulations