The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced a new rate of electricity across the country. According to the new decision, the average price of electricity at the consumer level has been increased by 16 decimal 68 percent and the wholesale level has been increased by 85 percent. At the same time, the power transmission charge has also been increased by about 24 percent.
At a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon, BERC announced the new price hike. Earlier, a public hearing was held after reviewing the cost of power generation, supply situation and proposals of the concerned agencies.
The new announcement will increase the electricity bills of different categories of customers at different rates. The price adjustment has been adjusted to a minimum of fifteen percent for lifeline customers and a maximum of about 20 percent for customers with high users. As a result, the concerned are fearing that additional pressure will be put on the power consumption of the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
According to BERC, the average price of electricity per unit at the wholesale level has been increased from Rs 7 decimal to Rs 84 per unit. At the same time, the average cost of power transmission has increased from Rs 31 per unit to about 39 rupees.
The power grid Bangladesh PLC (PGCB), the national transmission company, had applied for an increase in the transmission charge at a higher rate. On the other hand, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) proposed to increase the wholesale price by arguing that the production cost will increase.
According to the BPDB, the potential cost of power generation in the 2026-27 fiscal year could stand at about Rs 1 lakh to Rs 43 thousand crore. According to the company, the actual price of electricity per unit can be around Rs.12 decimals in consideration of the cost of production.
The last electricity price was adjusted on February 29, 2022. At the consumer level, an average of eight decimal 50 percent and the price at the wholesale level was increased by 5 percent.
According to energy experts, the pressure to adjust the price of electricity sector continues due to the production cost and increase in the price of imported fuel. But at the same time, they stressed the need for efficient management, reducing system losses and increasing investment in renewable energy, so that it is possible to reduce the additional financial pressure on consumers in the long run.