Monthly charge for prepaid electricity meters withdrawn

The government has withdrawn the monthly additional charge for prepaid electricity meters, a move expected to ease long-standing financial pressure on consumers.

BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan confirmed the matter on Wednesday, June 3, with the decision also announced on the party's media cell Facebook page. The post stated that the withdrawal of the additional monthly charge in the government's first 100 days aimed to ensure financial relief for the public.

Earlier on March 29, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku had indicated that a decision would be taken to withdraw the monthly meter rental charge.

Currently, prepaid meter users pay a monthly demand charge of Tk 42 per kilowatt, with single-phase meter users paying up to Tk 40. An additional 5 per cent VAT on these charges had been adding to the monthly bill, causing long-standing dissatisfaction among consumers.

The decision is expected to reduce monthly electricity costs for prepaid meter users, particularly bringing relief to low and middle-income consumers.