PDB to increase electricity prices by up to 21 percent

❐ Staff Reporter

The Power Development Board (PDB) has proposed to increase wholesale electricity prices by up to 21 percent.

At a public hearing held at the KIB auditorium in the capital on Wednesday morning, May 20, the PDB proposed to increase the wholesale electricity price by 1.5 taka per unit, or up to 21 percent.

In the hearing, the company’s chief engineer, Md. Rezaul Karim, mentioned the potential deficit of Tk 62,000 crore in the current fiscal year and Tk 65,000 crore in the next fiscal year, saying that if prices are not increased, the power sector will be at serious risk.

However, the process of increasing electricity prices was strongly opposed by politicians, business representatives, and stakeholders including consumer rights organization CAB. They said that the burden of economic pressure is being placed on the shoulders of consumers. Therefore, the stakeholders demanded a hearing to reduce prices.

Participants in the hearing said that the impact of the increase in electricity prices will be multifaceted, including the increased cost of daily necessities. Entrepreneurs will also lag behind in the manufacturing sector.

BERC will hold a public hearing on Thursday on the application to increase electricity prices at the consumer level.