Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Thursday re-fixed the power tariffs for lifeline consumers and marginal people to previous levels following government intervention a day after electricity-price hikes.
Residential consumers of the first two categories, who consume 0-50 units and 0-75 units of electricity, will continue to pay electricity bills at the previous rates, the BERC said in a press statement Thursday.
The BERC's Wednesday's decision on the power tariff kikes for the lifeline and marginal level consumers didn't reflect the proposals of the state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and other state-run power distribution companies, state minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) Aninda Islam Amit told The Financial Express Thursday.
"The government's policy towards the poorest and lower income people was not reflected in Wednesday's tariff hike decision by the commission," he said.
Keeping this in view, the BPDB and other state-owned power distribution companies requested the commission not to raise power tariff for the lifeline and marginal level power tariff consumers, he said.
The Power Division under the MPEMR also requested the BERC to re-fix the power tariff for the lifeline and marginal level consumers to previous level without any hike, Mr Amit added.
As a result, the BERC has re-fixed the power tariff rates for lifeline consumers and marginal people to previous levels to Tk 4.63 per unit (1 kilowatt-hour) and Tk 5.26 per unit instead of Tk 5.32 per unit and Tk 6.32 per unit respectively.
Azizjst@yahoo.com