BEE stands for Bureau of Energy Efficiency, a statutory body under the Ministry of Power set up on 1 March 2002 under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. BEE runs the star labelling programme you see on air conditioners, refrigerators, fans and LED lamps: the more stars, the less energy the appliance uses compared with others in its category. Under the current rules, the label comes with a QR code that you can scan to check the model against BEE’s own database.
(In engineering colleges, BEE is also short for Basic Electrical Engineering, a first-year subject that has nothing to do with appliance labelling.)
If you manufacture or import an appliance that needs a star label, our BEE star rating registration service handles testing, portal filing and renewals.
What BEE is, and where its powers come from
BEE’s own website states that the Government of India set up the Bureau of Energy Efficiency on 1 March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 (52 of 2001). It sits under the Ministry of Power.
The Act gives the Central Government powers that matter directly to appliance makers. Two clauses of Section 14 are the ones behind the star label:
- Section 14(c) allows the government to prohibit the manufacture, sale, purchase or import of a notified appliance unless it meets the specified energy consumption standards.
- Section 14(d) allows it to direct that particulars be displayed on a label on notified appliances, in the manner set by regulations.
The current regulations made under the Act are the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labeling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026, which came into force on 1 January 2026 and replaced the older product-by-product labelling regulations. The full text is on the BEE Star Label portal.
BEE is a government body. Aaditech is not part of BEE; we are a private consultancy that helps companies comply with BEE’s requirements.
BEE’s main programmes
The star label is BEE’s best-known work, but it is one of several programmes listed on beeindia.gov.in:
| Programme | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Standards & Labelling (S&L) | Minimum energy performance standards and star labels for appliances and equipment. Launched by the Minister of Power in May 2006; some appliances are mandatory, others voluntary |
| Energy efficiency in buildings | The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC 2017), the Energy Conservation & Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC 2024) and Eco-Niwas Samhita for residential buildings |
| Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) | Energy saving targets for energy-intensive industrial units notified as Designated Consumers. Units that beat their targets earn tradable Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts) |
| Carbon market | BEE is the administrator of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, linked to the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 |
| National Certification Examination | Certification of energy managers and energy auditors |
| Demand Side Management and SMEs | Efficiency programmes for existing buildings, street lighting, agricultural pumping and small and medium enterprises |
| Transport | Energy efficiency in the transport sector |
For most manufacturers and importers, the programme that matters is S&L.
What the BEE star rating means
A BEE star rating tells you how efficient an appliance is compared with other models in the same category, measured to a test standard and placed on a star rating table that BEE notifies for that category. One star is the lowest band on the table and five stars the highest.
Three points are often misunderstood:
- Stars are category-specific. A 5-star ceiling fan and a 5-star refrigerator are rated on completely different tables. You cannot compare stars across categories.
- Stars are time-specific. BEE tightens tables from time to time. A model that earned 5 stars under one label series can be 4 stars under the next, with no change to the product.
- Some products carry an endorsement label instead. The 2026 Regulations also define an endorsement label, a mark showing that an appliance meets the minimum energy performance standards in its rating system and is energy efficient for its category.
How to read a BEE star label
Regulation 6 of the 2026 Regulations lists what every label must show:
- the name of the appliance and the brand;
- the model number;
- the energy performance parameter;
- the label series;
- the rated capacity or output, where applicable;
- the star level or endorsement;
- the country of origin;
- the BEE logo;
- any category-specific details set out in Schedule C.
The exact layout differs by category. Here is how the specimen labels in Schedule C of the Regulations read:
| Label element | Refrigerator label | Room AC label |
|---|---|---|
| Stars | 1 to 5 on a red arc, with “More stars, more savings” | Same |
| Label series | “2026 - 28 Label Series” | “2026 - 27 Label Series” |
| Headline figure | Annual energy consumption in units (kWh) per year | Energy efficiency as an ISEER value |
| Product details | Type, brand, total volume in litres, model number, country of origin | Type, brand, tonnage, cooling capacity, model number, fixed or variable speed, heat pump (Y/N), country of origin |
| QR code | Separate square QR block with “Bureau of Energy Efficiency” | Same |
Annual energy consumption
On a refrigerator label, the big number is the energy the model uses in a year under standard test conditions, in units (kWh) per year. Lower is better. The figure carries an asterisk pointing to a note that it was measured under test conditions and that actual consumption depends on how the appliance is used. To estimate a running cost, multiply the annual units by your electricity tariff.
Label series and validity
The label series is defined in the Regulations as the validity of the energy performance standard for that appliance. It is printed in large type on the label. If BEE revises the standard during the permission period, permittees must submit a self-declaration and relabel to the revised standard within 60 days of being informed or before the validity in the label series runs out.
Separately, BEE grants a manufacturer permission to label a model for three years, renewable. That is a registration term, not something a buyer needs to check.
The QR code
Regulation 7 requires a label along with a QR code embedded with the label particulars, placed next to the star label. For LED lamps, Schedule C notes that the QR code applies to lamps above 5 W. BEE’s QR code page describes the purpose plainly: to fight counterfeit labels by letting consumers check the label against BEE’s registered appliance database.
Manufacturers generate these QR codes on the BEE portal and map each one to a product serial number. Each code can be mapped to only one model.
Mandatory or voluntary
A BEE star label is compulsory only for appliances that have been notified under the mandatory regime, such as frost-free and direct cool refrigerators, room air conditioners, ceiling fans, LED lamps, televisions and distribution transformers. Many other products, from industrial motors to laptops, are on the voluntary list. Voluntary does not mean unregulated: once you use the label, the same rules, fees and check testing apply.
We cover the full lists, the effective dates and how registration works in BEE star labelling: mandatory vs voluntary appliances.
How to verify a BEE star label
Step 1: Check the label is complete
Make sure all the Regulation 6 particulars are there: brand, model number, star level, energy figure, label series, country of origin and the BEE logo. A star graphic with no model number or series is a warning sign.
Step 2: Scan the QR code in the BEE Star Label app
BEE’s official BEE Star Label app is available on Android and iOS; BEE says to search for “BEE Star label” on the Play Store, and the portal has a mobile app page. Scanning the QR code retrieves the technical details from BEE’s registered appliance database.
Step 3: Match the details
Confirm that the brand, model number, star level and energy figure from the scan match both the label and the product itself. Check that the label series is current.
Step 4: Check online listings too
The 2026 Regulations require the label to appear on every registered unit at both online and offline points of sale. A non-working dummy display unit may carry a replica of the label, but it must be clearly marked “dummy”.
Step 5: Report a problem
The BEE Star Label portal has Consumer Feedback and Raise Query options. Under Regulation 14, BEE or a State Designated Agency can also check test a model on a complaint. The complainant deposits the testing cost; if the sample fails, the permittee reimburses it, and if it passes, the deposit is forfeited.
What happens when a label is wrong
The 2026 Regulations give BEE and the State Designated Agencies two main tools.
Label verification. Market surveillance, offline and on e-commerce platforms, looks for counterfeit labels, missing labels, altered labels and look-alike designs. If the permittee cannot explain a non-compliance within 30 days of a show-cause notice, BEE can forfeit the label security deposit, suspend the model registration for one year and initiate a penalty. For online non-compliance, BEE can direct the e-commerce platform to de-register the model.
Check testing. BEE can procure samples from factories, the open market or online platforms and test them. If the first test fails, a second test uses twice the quantity in two different laboratories, at the permittee’s cost. A confirmed failure can lead to the permittee’s details being published, stock being withdrawn from the market, the star level being corrected and a penalty.
Penalties under the Energy Conservation Act
Section 26 of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 was substituted by the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022. For appliances, the relevant provision is Section 26(2):
- a person who fails to comply with Section 14(c) (energy performance standards) or Section 14(d) (display of particulars on the label) is liable, in addition to the penalty of ten lakh rupees, to an additional penalty of not less than ₹2,000 and not more than ₹5,000 per appliance in relation to which the non-compliance occurred;
- under Section 26(5), unpaid amounts can be recovered as arrears of land revenue.
Penalties are imposed through an adjudication process, with an adjudicating officer appointed by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. The 2026 Regulations refer to the Energy Conservation (Compliance Enforcement) Rules, 2025 for initiating penalty action.
BEE label vs BIS certification
A BEE star label covers energy performance only. It says nothing about electrical safety. Many labelled appliances also need a BIS licence (the ISI mark) or BIS CRS registration, depending on the product. LED lamps, for example, typically need both a star label and CRS registration. See BIS full form and meaning, ISI mark full form and CRS full form for the safety side.
If you also need NABL accredited test reports for the same product, see NABL full form and meaning and our testing scope.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech helps manufacturers and importers register appliances under BEE’s Standards & Labelling programme. We plan testing at suitable laboratories, file company, brand and model applications on the BEE portal, set up QR code generation and quarterly production reporting, and prepare models for check testing and label series changes. Aaditech has been appointed by BEE as an Independent Agency for Monitoring and Evaluation; details are on our accreditations page. See our BEE star rating registration service.