State Minister for Power, Energy Mineral Resources Anindya Islam on Monday said the country’s power sector is currently bearing the heavy liabilities of wrong decisions made by the previous “fascist" government, including paying capacity charges for an additional 12,000 megawatts (MW) of surplus power generation capacity.
The State Minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a press conference held at Bidyut Bhaban in the capital.
Power Division meeting reviews high electricity bill complaints
He noted that the current government has initiated a review of power tariffs for several private power plants, which had signed "unethical" power purchase agreements under the ousted regime.
Speaking at the same event, Power Secretary Mirana Mahrukh read out a written statement clarifying recent allegations and media reports regarding unusual electricity bills issued in June (for the usage month of May).
Mahrukh urged journalists to cross-check complaints related to electricity bills before publishing, noting that internal investigations by the Power Division found several published reports to be based on incorrect information.
However, she welcomed constructive investigative journalism that allows the ministry to take necessary corrective actions.
Addressing public concern over billing discrepancies, the Power Secretary said consumers with any doubts or complaints regarding their bills should contact the customer service centers of their respective power distribution companies.
Arrangements have been made for meter testing, bill re-verification, and dispute resolution where necessary, she added.
Clarifying the penalty structure for late payments, Mahrukh noted that while a 2 percent compound interest rate was previously charged for each month of delay, the policy has been revised in accordance with Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) directives.
Under the current rule, a one-time late fee of 5 percent is applied to the total bill amount.
Regarding meter charges, the secretary explained that six distribution companies supply meters to customers either through a lump-sum payment or a monthly installment plan.
Customers who pay upfront face no additional fees, while those on installment plans pay a monthly fee of Tk 40 for single-phase meters and Tk 250 for three-phase meters. Furthermore, four of these companies allow customers to purchase approved pre-paid meters directly from the open market.
"At the request of consumers, the government is seriously reviewing the issue of meter rent, and a decision will be announced very soon," she said.
The Power Division reiterated its commitment to protecting public interest, ensuring uninterrupted power supply, and making the power sector financially sustainable in the long run.
Chairman of the Power Development Board (PDB) Engineer Md. Rezaul Karim and Chairman of the Rural Electrification Board (REB) Major General SM Zia-Ul-Azim also spoke at the press conference.