Considering the potential hardship faced by marginal consumers, the Power Division has requested the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) today to review the newly announced electricity tariff.
Recently, following public hearings held on May 20–21, 2026, regarding proposals submitted by various power distribution utilities and companies for changes in retail electricity tariffs across different consumer categories, BERC revised the wholesale (bulk), transmission, and retail electricity tariffs under the powers vested in it by Sections 22(b) and 34 of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act, 2003.
However, the revised tariff structure announced by BERC does not reflect the tariff proposal for marginal (lifeline) consumers that had been submitted by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) with the approval of the Power Division. The matter has drawn the attention of the Power Division.
The Power Division believes that the revised tariff may significantly increase electricity expenditures for marginal (lifeline) consumers, particularly low-income and lower-middle-income households, thereby adversely affecting their standard of living. It is noteworthy that the present government has undertaken all possible measures to improve the living standards of low-income and lower-middle-income families across the country.
In this context, the Power Division considers the revised tariff for lifeline consumers inconsistent with the government’s policy objectives. Accordingly, the Division has sent a letter to BERC requesting a review of the revised tariff and its reconsideration in line with the proposal submitted by BPDB on May 3, 2026, specifically for marginal (lifeline) consumers.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced on Wednesday that the average retail electricity tariff would rise by Tk1.52 per unit to Tk10.63 per kilowatt-hour, while wholesale prices would increase by Tk1.39 per unit to Tk8.39.
The latest adjustment represents an average increase of 16.68% for retail consumers and 19.85% at the wholesale level. Power transmission charges have also been raised by nearly 24% to Tk0.3886 per unit.
The revised tariffs will take effect from June.