Bulk power tariff has been raised by about 19.92 per cent – to Tk 6.20 per kilowatt hour from the previous Tk 5.17 – with effect from December 2022, reports UNB.
Chairman of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Md Abdul Jalil announced the decision on Monday to raise the power tariff, disposing of the review appeal of the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to raise bulk power tariff.
However, the new power tariff will not be effective for retail consumers. It will be effective only for power distribution companies and some other bulk consumers.
BPDB filed the review appeal to BERC on November 14 – within 30 working days after its proposal was rejected by the regulator on October 13.
Before submitting the proposal, BPDB received a nod from the government’s highest policy level, the media release from BERC said. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid also approved the review appeal on bulk power tariff.
BERC Chairman Abdul Jalil said the new bulk tariff was set considering Tk 17,000 crore subsidy to be received from the government.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Vice President ASM Shamsul Alam termed BERC’s decision, without any public hearing, as an “arbitrary act” and “violation of the BERC Act”.
“When people are already fed up with load shedding and sharp price hike of essentials, this decision from BERC will be a big blow for the public,” he told the media.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
