More than two months after the government pledged to withdraw additional charges on prepaid electricity meters, consumers say the promised relief has yet to reach them, with power distribution companies continuing to deduct meter rent, demand charges and other fees during every recharge.
The delay has triggered frustration among users, who say they are still paying extra charges despite the government's commitment to reduce their financial burden.
Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh said the government was reviewing the issue and discussions were underway with power distribution companies to resolve the matter.
"The concerns raised by consumers are being taken seriously. Discussions with the power distribution companies are ongoing, and a clear decision will be announced soon," she said.
She, however, did not specify when the withdrawal of the additional charges would come into effect.
Professor M Shamsul Alam, energy adviser to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), described the delay in implementing the government's announcement as a governance failure.
"When a policy decision is publicly announced but remains unimplemented for months, it creates confusion and erodes public trust. If the government has already decided to withdraw these charges, it should issue the necessary directives without further delay," he said.
He also called for a broader review of the prepaid metering system to ensure consumers are not subjected to unjustified financial burdens.
The government announced the withdrawal of additional monthly charges on prepaid electricity meters on May 25 during a press conference held at the Prime Minister’s Office to mark its first 100 days in office. At the time, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said the decision was taken in response to longstanding public complaints and would be implemented through necessary administrative measures.
Despite the announcement, consumers say no visible changes have been made, with distribution companies continuing to apply the same deductions during every recharge.
Abdur Rahman, a resident of West Agargaon in Dhaka, recently recharged his prepaid electricity meter with Tk1,500. However, only Tk1,269 was credited for electricity consumption, while Tk231 was deducted as VAT, demand charges, meter rent and other adjustments.
"The government announced that these additional charges would be withdrawn, but nothing has changed. We are still paying the same deductions every month despite rising electricity prices," he said.
Homemaker Rahima Begum shared a similar experience after recharging her prepaid meter with Tk300 before moving out of her rented apartment.
She said only Tk162 remained available for electricity consumption after various deductions.
"I was going to stay in the apartment for only four more days. Even after recharging Tk300, almost half the amount was deducted under different heads. Why should consumers pay demand charges and meter rent with every recharge?" she questioned.
The lack of an official implementation order has also created confusion among consumers, as the government's public commitment has yet to translate into changes in electricity accounts.
Consumer complaints also extend to users of conventional postpaid meters.
Sk Shahidul, a resident of Dhanmondi, alleged that inaccurate meter readings have resulted in unusually high electricity bills.
"Our area uses conventional postpaid meters, but meter readers often record inconsistent readings. After reviewing my electricity consumption over the past five years, I found that my bills for the last two months are unusually high and do not reflect my actual usage," he said.
He urged the authorities to investigate the matter, warning that continued billing irregularities could undermine public confidence.
"If these problems are not resolved, people will gradually develop negative perceptions about the government's ability to ensure fair utility services," he added.
According to the Power Division, Bangladesh has more than 50 million electricity consumers, including around 8.75 million prepaid meter users.
As the government continues expanding prepaid metering nationwide, consumer groups say implementing the promised relief has become increasingly urgent. They also called for an independent review of billing practices under postpaid systems to restore public confidence in electricity distribution services.
