DHAKA: Power Development Board (PDB) of Bangladesh wants to increase bulk electricity tariffs by 18.12 percent or Tk 0.81 per unit from January 2015.

The board, however, has already submitted a proposal to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) in this regard on Monday.

Sources said that the BERC, after evaluation and approval by the technical committee, will go in for a public hearing on it.

The PDB attributed the hike to the greater cost of production of electricity. “PDB, in their proposal, said had there been no increase in power tariffs, this organization would have lost Tk7,000 crore. If the BERC accepts the new tariff hike, then the loss will be around Tk 4,000 crore,” sources added.

But, according to them, if the proposal is accepted by the BERC, then the retail price per unit of electricity would be Tk 5.51, instead of Tk 4.70.

On the other hand, PDB claims that they are counting loses Tk 1.84 per unit as they are selling it on Tk 4.70 per unit while the cost is Tk 6.54.

Nevertheless, according to sources, the price might be increased at consumer level as there is a tradition of hiking price at consumer level after increasing at bulk category.

BERC member Dr Salim Mahmud, admitting the matter, told banglanews that as the ‘power’ is one of the most important sector of the country, Energy Regulatory Commission is trying to settle the price ‘once in a year’ by December.

He, moreover, added that BERC received a proposal in this regard but he didn’t see it yet.

The price of power was hiked last on March 13.

Likewise, it has been hiked for seven times at consumer level while six times at bulk category in last five years.

BDST: 1255 HRS, OCT 15, 2014