A two-day public hearing to justify proposed power -tariff hikes in bulk and retail supplies begins today (Wednesday).
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will hold the public hearing against the proposals of the state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to raise bulk tariffs and of Power Grid Bangladesh PLC to raise transmission charge today (May 20).
The commission will hold the public hearing on retail power -tariff hikes against the proposals of the BPDB and other state-run electricity-distribution companies tomorrow (May 21).
The power board and other power-marketing and-distribution companies have proposed raising the bulk electricity prices to address a projected Tk 655-billion deficit in fiscal year 2026-27.
Estimated power-generation cost is Tk 1.43 trillion with per-unit electricity costing Tk 12.91. At current bulk or wholesale rates, revenue would come to Tk 775 billion.
The BPDB authorities have proposed that a Tk 1.20 or 17-percent increase per unit could reduce the deficit by Tk 13.29 billion while a Tk 1.50 or 21-percent hike could cut it by Tk 16.66 billion.
Under the existing law, BERC holds sole authority to approve electricity-price hikes.
Tariff-adjustment proposals undergo review by a technical committee and are presented at public hearings before decisions are made.
In the latest, power tariff was raised on February 29, 2024 by an executive order when wholesale electricity price was increased by 5.0 per cent from Tk 6.70 to Tk 6.99 per unit, while retail -level prices rose by an average of 8.50 per cent.
The regulator last raised bulk tariffs on November 21, 2022, by 19.92 per cent, setting the rate at Tk 6.20 per unit after a public hearing.
Azizjst@yahoo.com
Hearing on power-price hike begins today
FE REPORT | Published: May 19, 2026 23:28:25
Hearing on power-price hike begins today
Share if you like