Dhaka, June 4, 2026 — The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has withdrawn its decision to increase electricity tariffs for residential consumers using up to 75 units per month, just one day after announcing the new tariff structure.
BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed confirmed that the existing tariff for lifeline consumers—those using up to 50 units of electricity per month—will remain unchanged at Tk 4.63 per unit. Similarly, the previous tariff of Tk 5.26 per unit for residential consumers using up to 75 units will also remain in effect.
He said a revised tariff order would be issued on Thursday (June 4), reflecting the change. As a result, the average retail electricity tariff will decline from Tk 10.63 per unit to Tk 10.40 per unit, a reduction of 23 paisa from the rate announced on Wednesday.
Under the tariff order announced on June 3, the rate for lifeline consumers had been increased from Tk 4.63 to Tk 5.32 per unit, while the tariff for the first residential slab (up to 75 units) was raised from Tk 5.26 to Tk 6.18 per unit.
However, within a day, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) requested that the increase for consumers using up to 75 units be withdrawn. The request cited policy guidance from the Power Division aimed at protecting low-income households from additional financial burdens.
The lifeline tariff category was originally introduced to support extremely poor, low-income and marginalized households. Typically, consumers who use a single 30-watt light bulb and a fan for around 10 to 12 hours a day fall within this category. Households with higher consumption levels are placed in higher tariff slabs and pay significantly higher rates.
Energy sector observers welcomed the government’s decision, noting that it would help shield low-income consumers from the impact of the recent electricity tariff adjustments.
According to data from June 2025, Bangladesh had approximately 18.6 million lifeline consumers. Of these, around 87 percent are served by the Rural Electrification Board (REB), followed by BPDB (4.5 percent), NESCO (4 percent) and WZPDCL (3 percent). The share of lifeline consumers is lowest in Dhaka, accounting for only 1 percent of customers served by DPDC and about 0.5 percent of DESCO customers.
The figures indicate that the lifeline tariff primarily benefits poor rural households, which are expected to remain protected under the revised tariff structure.
