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BERC and Distribution Companies Clueless Despite Ruling Party's Social Media Campaigns; 5.5 Million Customers Confused

Claims of Withdrawing Prepaid Power Meter Charges Proven ‘Fake News’

The information circulated from the ruling party BNP's official Facebook page claiming that the government is withdrawing monthly prepaid power meter charges is entirely a "rumor"

Claims of Withdrawing Prepaid Power Meter Charges Proven ‘Fake News’
Staff CorrespondentStaff Correspondent
Jul 5, 2026 02:05

Reports circulating on social media regarding the withdrawal of monthly prepaid electricity meter rents have been revealed as a rumor. On June 3, amid the electricity tariff hike, the ruling party BNP's official Facebook page campaigned that the government was abolishing monthly prepaid meter charges. However, in reality, no such decision has been implemented, and consumers continue to pay these fees.

The continuation of these charges was reconfirmed this afternoon through recharge receipts provided by prepaid meter users in the capital. Nazimul Islam, a DPDC consumer, and Amena Mukta, a resident of West Dhanmondi, both stated that they only read about the news in papers but practically, meter rent deductions have never stopped. Currently, there are 5.5 million prepaid meter users in Bangladesh, paying BDT 40 for a single-phase meter and BDT 42 for a three-phase meter monthly. Additionally, residential consumers are charged a demand fee of BDT 42 per kilowatt (e.g., BDT 210 for a 5 kW line), which combined with the meter rent, remains a major cause of consumer dissatisfaction.

Sufferings and Grievances Outside the Capital:

In addition to the capital, complaints regarding prepaid meters are pouring in from consumers outside Dhaka and remote rural areas. Consumers under NESCO, WZPDCO, and REB (Palli Bidyut) complain that a major portion of their recharged balance is immediately deducted for meter rent and demand charges. Furthermore, severe resentment has brewed among rural consumers over sudden power disconnections for slight delays, server complexities during card recharges, and double deductions after taking emergency balances. Following the ruling party's campaign, many hoped for immediate relief, but the continuation of the fees has only multiplied public confusion and dissatisfaction.

Investigations revealed that the misinformation originated from a pledge made during a meeting on March 29, chaired by Power Minister Iqbal Hasan, where it was suggested that meter rents would be scrapped. However, Jalal Ahmed, Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), confirmed to the media that no distribution company has applied to lift the meter rent, nor has the commission taken any such decision. He noted that the project was initiated via a government gazette in 2017, and the deduction would only stop if the government repeals that notification and takes over the financial liability of the project.

Power sector officials stated that prepaid meter projects were funded through loans, which are being repaid using the collected meter rents. Even assuming all 5.5 million users are single-phase consumers, distribution companies collect BDT 22 crore monthly and BDT 264 crore annually from meter rents. Distributing such political statements without evaluating the financial aspects has created mass confusion. Distribution sources warned that if meter rents or demand charges are dropped without government subsidies, the deficit will ultimately have to be recovered from consumers through other channels.

//DBTech/BTN/EK//

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