Government Scraps Monthly Charges for Prepaid Electric Meters
State Minister for Power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku confirmed the decision on Sunday, March 29, 2026, noting that the government aims to address long-standing public grievances regarding hidden costs in the billing system. The move is part of a broader effort to ensure a more "people-friendly" and transparent utility service, effectively ending the automatic deductions that occurred during the first recharge of every month.
According to the Ministry, the practice of charging customers for meter rent—even after the procurement costs of the devices had been recovered—was deemed an unnecessary burden on the public. Minister Tuku highlighted that past inconsistencies in meter procurement and high maintenance fees had created widespread dissatisfaction, which the current administration is now moving to rectify. Distribution companies, including DPDC, DESCO, and BPDB, are expected to begin the technical process of updating their billing software immediately to reflect these changes in the next recharge cycle.
This policy shift comes at a critical time as the government navigates a regional energy crisis caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. By removing these monthly fees, the Ministry hopes to stabilize living costs for middle- and low-income households while encouraging further adoption of digital prepaid systems. Analysts view this as a strategic move to bolster public trust in the power sector amidst rising global fuel prices and domestic economic pressures.
