The new tariff on electricity will not affect retail customers, a Bangladesh Energy Regulator Commission (BERC) official has said.
''There will be no impact on retail electricity users. Distribution companies will not be able to sell more than the increased price without a new base, BERC Member (Administration and Finance) Mohammad Abu Farooq told Dhaka Tribune.
On Monday, wholesale electricity prices have been hiked by an average of 19.92% per unit.
BERC made the announcement through a virtual press conference on Monday in view of the review application of the Power Development Board (PDB).
Through this, BERC has fixed Tk6.20 per kilowatt hour (each unit) from previous Tk5.17.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that right now, the bulk power tariff hike will have no impact on the masses.
“BERC (Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission) will examine whether it will have any impact on retail consumers in future,” he told reporters.
Nasrul Hamid made the remark while talking to reporters at his ministry on Monday, following the announcement made by BERC to raise bulk power tariff by 19.92 percent with effect from December, 2022.
Nasrul Hamid said the government wants to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers.
“That's why power tariff adjustment was needed,” he added.
Earlier in March 2020, BERC hiked retail electricity tariffs following a public hearing.
At that time, the average price of electricity was increased by 5.3% at the retail level and 8.4% at the wholesale level.
According to that decision, the price of retail electricity per unit (per kilowatt-hour) has been increased from Tk6.77 to Tk7.13 and at the bulk level from Tk4.77 to Tk5.17.
Wholesale electricity prices have increased by 118% in 10 periods in the last 11 years.
The price of retail electricity has increased eight times in 10 years by a total of 89.63%.
