Bangladesh has increased electricity prices, with retail consumers now required to pay an additional Tk1.52 per kilowatt-hour following a 16.68 per cent tariff hike announced by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Wednesday.
The revised rates were declared at a press briefing by BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed, who said the new tariff structure will come into effect from the ongoing June billing cycle. Alongside the retail adjustment, wholesale electricity prices have also been raised by 19.85 per cent, adding Tk1.39 per kilowatt-hour.
The decision follows a series of public hearings conducted by BERC on proposals submitted by power distribution and transmission authorities. During the consultation process, the commission’s Technical Evaluation Committee initially projected a lower increase of around 13.9 per cent for retail consumers.
According to the committee’s findings, six major power distribution utilities will require an additional Tk11,925 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year to cover operational costs compared to what is allowed under the existing 2024 tariff framework.
The proposed increases also came amid discussions on broader tariff restructuring. In a separate hearing held on 21 May, officials reviewed proposals suggesting a significantly higher rise in wholesale electricity rates, with estimates indicating that tariffs could increase by nearly 78 per cent if government subsidies were fully removed.
Consumer rights groups and industrial representatives had opposed the hike, raising concerns over rising living costs, industrial production expenses and additional financial pressure on households.
Despite the opposition, authorities said the revised tariff reflects current operational realities of the power sector and will help ensure continued supply stability across the country.
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