Energy charge
Units used times the slab rate for your category. Homes (LT-A) pay more per unit as use goes up. Shops and factories pay a flat or time-of-day rate.
Rates checked 7 October 2026 · June 2026 BERC tariff
Bangladesh Electricity Bill Calculator 2026: see where every taka goes
Enter your units and sanctioned load. The calculator prices your units through the current BERC slabs, adds the ৳42 per kW demand charge and 5% VAT, and shows each line so you can match it with your bill. It works for DESCO, DPDC, NESCO, BPDB, WZPDCL and Palli Bidyut customers.
- Uses the public BERC tariff order
- All LT, MT, HT and EHT categories
- Free. Runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to us.
Estimated monthly bill
Fill in your category, units and sanctioned load, then press Calculate bill to see a full line-by-line breakdown.
Estimate only. Late fees and arrears are added only if you type them in the extra charges box. Learn how each line appears on your printed bill.
How your electricity bill is built
Your utility prints a total, but the math behind it is short. Once you know the four parts, you can check any bill in a few minutes.
Total = (Energy charge + Demand charge + Meter rent − Prepaid rebate) × 1.05The × 1.05 adds the 5% VAT at the end.Demand charge
Sanctioned load in kW times ৳42 for a home. It pays for the capacity kept ready for you, so you pay it even if you use zero units.
Meter rent
If the utility supplied your meter, DPDC and Palli Bidyut charge ৳40 a month for single-phase and ৳250 for three-phase. DESCO also lists ৳40 for single-phase. There is no rent if you bought your own prepaid meter.
VAT and rebate
VAT is 5%. Prepaid meters get a 0.5% rebate on the bill before VAT (BERC order). If you pay late, your utility can add a delay charge, so check your bill for the exact amount.
From the BERC order: for LT (home and small shop) and MT connections, the demand charge uses your sanctioned load. For HT and EHT connections, it uses the higher of your recorded maximum demand or 80% of your sanctioned load. An LT connection can be single-phase up to 7.5 kW or three-phase up to 80 kW.
Home electricity rates per unit (LT-A), June 2026
Homes are billed in steps. Each slice of your units is priced at its own rate, so the first 75 units are always the cheapest. These rates are before VAT and the demand charge.
| Monthly use | Rate per unit | Rough guide to typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 50 units (lifeline) | ৳4.63 | Only if your whole month stays at 50 units or less. |
| 0 – 75 units | ৳5.26 | First step for everyone using more than 50 units. |
| 76 – 200 units | ৳8.50 | Fans, lights, TV, fridge and a few other appliances. |
| 201 – 300 units | ৳9.10 | Fridge plus some AC use, or many appliances together. |
| 301 – 400 units | ৳9.62 | Regular AC use in one room. |
| 401 – 600 units | ৳15.01 | Heavy use, such as AC in several rooms. |
| 601 units and above | ৳17.35 | Very high use. The highest rate in the home tariff. |
The 50-unit cliff. At 50 units your energy charge is ৳231.50. At 51 units it is ৳268.26, because the lifeline rate disappears and all 51 units are priced from the 0–75 slab. One extra unit adds ৳36.76. If you are close to 50, it is worth waiting or cutting use.
What changed in June 2026
Many sites still show the first announcement. Here is what happened, in order.
3 June 2026: new tariff announced
BERC raised the average retail price by 16.68%, from ৳9.11 to ৳10.63 per unit. It also raised wholesale and transmission prices. The new rates applied from the June billing cycle. The order listed ৳5.32 for lifeline and ৳6.18 for the 0–75 slab, and ৳17.35 for 601 units and above.
4 June 2026: low-use homes protected
BERC withdrew the increase for homes using up to 75 units. It announced that lifeline stays at ৳4.63 and the 0–75 slab stays at ৳5.26 for all distribution companies from June. The average retail price became ৳10.40. If you are reading the 3 June order itself, its ৳5.32 and ৳6.18 are the withdrawn figures.
What did not change
The demand charge is the same in every category. VAT is still 5%. The prices for 76 units and above are the new, higher ones from the 3 June order, shown in the table above.
Worked example: 250 units in a city flat
A two-bedroom flat with fans, a fridge and an AC used a few hours a night can reach about 250 units in summer. This is the bill, step by step, with a 1 kW sanctioned load.
Energy charge, slab by slab
- First 75 units × ৳5.26৳394.50
- Next 125 units (76–200) × ৳8.50৳1,062.50
- Next 50 units (201–250) × ৳9.10৳455.00
- Energy charge৳1,912.00
Add demand charge and VAT
- Energy charge৳1,912.00
- Demand charge (1 kW × ৳42)৳42.00
- Subtotal৳1,954.00
- VAT at 5%৳97.70
- Total payable৳2,051.70
If your utility supplied a single-phase meter, add ৳40 meter rent. That makes the total about ৳2,093.70. A prepaid meter takes about ৳10 off through the 0.5% rebate.
Monthly bill at common usage levels
Totals for a home with a 1 kW sanctioned load, including VAT. Meter rent and late fees are not included. Use the calculator above for your own numbers.
| Units used | Energy | Demand | VAT | Total | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 units | ৳231.50 | ৳42.00 | ৳13.68 | ৳287.18 | ৳5.74 |
| 75 units | ৳394.50 | ৳42.00 | ৳21.83 | ৳458.33 | ৳6.11 |
| 100 units | ৳607.00 | ৳42.00 | ৳32.45 | ৳681.45 | ৳6.81 |
| 150 units | ৳1,032.00 | ৳42.00 | ৳53.70 | ৳1,127.70 | ৳7.52 |
| 200 units | ৳1,457.00 | ৳42.00 | ৳74.95 | ৳1,573.95 | ৳7.87 |
| 250 units | ৳1,912.00 | ৳42.00 | ৳97.70 | ৳2,051.70 | ৳8.21 |
| 300 units | ৳2,367.00 | ৳42.00 | ৳120.45 | ৳2,529.45 | ৳8.43 |
| 400 units | ৳3,329.00 | ৳42.00 | ৳168.55 | ৳3,539.55 | ৳8.85 |
| 500 units | ৳4,830.00 | ৳42.00 | ৳243.60 | ৳5,115.60 | ৳10.23 |
| 600 units | ৳6,331.00 | ৳42.00 | ৳318.65 | ৳6,691.65 | ৳11.15 |
Why the last 100 units cost the most
Your average rate looks small, but the next unit you use costs the rate of your top slab. This chart shows what 100 extra units add to your bill (with VAT) at different usage levels.
What this means for you
Going from 300 to 400 units adds ৳1,010. Going from 400 to 500 adds ৳1,576. The rate jumps from ৳9.62 to ৳15.01 at unit 401, which is 56% higher for every unit after that.
Example: one 1.5-ton AC using about 1,400 W for 8 hours a night uses around 336 units a month (1.4 kW × 8 h × 30 days). Check your AC label for its real power use. On a home that already uses 150 units, that AC alone pushes the bill past 400 units.
Prepaid meter: where your recharge money goes
Prepaid and postpaid homes pay the same BERC rates. The difference is when the fixed charges are taken. This is how DPDC explained it in a notice in September 2026. DESCO prepaid meters work in a similar way.
Demand charge, once a month
It is taken from the first recharge of the month. If you skip a month, the missed months are added to your next recharge. Example from DPDC: a 2 kW home that skips 3 months pays ৳252 at the next recharge (৳42 × 2 kW × 3).
Meter rent and VAT
Meter rent is ৳40 (single-phase) or ৳250 (three-phase) only if the meter belongs to the utility. VAT of 5% is taken from every recharge.
The long token
After a tariff change, your first recharge makes a token of 200 to 220 digits to load the new rates into the meter. Enter all the digits. Later tokens are short again.
How to check your bill in five steps
If your bill looks too high, do this before you call anyone.
- Find your category. It is printed on the bill, for example LT-A for a home or LT-E for a shop.
- Find your units. This month's meter reading minus last month's reading.
- Price the units. Use the slab table above, one slice at a time.
- Add the fixed charges. Sanctioned kW × ৳42, plus meter rent if it applies.
- Add 5% VAT. Compare with the total on your bill. A small gap can come from old dues or a late charge.
Six ways to lower your bill
Start with one rule: units = watts × hours ÷ 1,000. A 75 W fan running 10 hours a day for 30 days uses 75 × 10 × 30 ÷ 1,000 = 22.5 units. Use the same formula on any appliance label.
Stay under 400 units
The rate jumps by 56% after unit 400. Watch your meter in the last week of the month.
Stay under 50 units if you can
This only works for very low use, but the lifeline rate is the cheapest rate in the tariff.
Run the AC smarter
It is usually your biggest load. A higher temperature setting, a clean filter and a closed room all cut its running hours.
Use LED lights
A 9 W LED running 5 hours a day uses about 1.35 units a month. An old 60 W bulb used for the same time uses 9 units.
Look after the fridge
It runs all day. Keep the door seal tight, leave space behind it, and let hot food cool first.
Check your sanctioned load
Every extra kW costs ৳42 a month, plus VAT. If your real need is much lower, ask your utility office about a load reduction before you apply.
Who sends your bill? Six companies, one tariff
Your address decides the company. The rates are the same everywhere because BERC sets them for the whole country.
| Company | Main area | Hotline |
|---|---|---|
| DESCO | North Dhaka: Uttara, Mirpur, Gulshan, Badda, Tongi | 16120 |
| DPDC | South Dhaka: Dhanmondi, Motijheel area, old Dhaka, Demra | 16116 |
| WZPDCL | Khulna and Barishal side of the country | 16117 |
| NESCO | Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions | Number on your bill |
| BPDB | Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh and many other towns | Number on your bill |
| BREB (Palli Bidyut) | Rural areas, through your local Palli Bidyut Samity | Number on your bill |
Hotlines checked against company notices and news reports. If a number does not connect, use the one on your latest bill. Not sure who serves you? Find your distributor.
Five billing myths, checked
Myth Prepaid meters charge more per unit than postpaid meters.
Fact: The rates are the same. Prepaid users also get a 0.5% rebate. The first recharge of the month only looks small because fixed charges are taken first.
Myth If I use no electricity, I pay nothing.
Fact: The demand charge still applies, at ৳42 for each kW of sanctioned load.
Myth Using 51 units costs only a little more than 50 units.
Fact: The energy charge goes from ৳231.50 to ৳268.26, because the lifeline rate ends after 50 units.
Myth DESCO, DPDC and BPDB charge different prices per unit.
Fact: BERC sets one national tariff. Only meter rent practice, service and billing dates differ.
Myth The June 2026 increase raised the price for every home.
Fact: Homes using up to 75 units kept the old rates after BERC withdrew that part of the increase on 4 June.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to what readers ask us most about electricity bills in Bangladesh.
How is an electricity bill calculated in Bangladesh?
Your bill has four parts. First, the energy charge: your units are priced through the BERC slab rates for your category. Second, the demand charge: your sanctioned load in kW times 42 taka for a home. Third, meter rent if the utility supplied your meter. Fourth, 5% VAT on the total. A prepaid meter also gets a 0.5% rebate.
What is the lifeline rate and who gets it?
If a home uses 50 units or less in a month, every unit costs 4.63 taka. If you use even one unit more than 50, the lifeline rate is gone and all your units are priced from the 0 to 75 slab at 5.26 taka. That is why 51 units can cost much more than 50 units.
BERC's 3 June order shows 5.32 and 6.18 taka. Why does this page show 4.63 and 5.26?
The 3 June 2026 order did list 5.32 taka for lifeline (0 to 50 units) and 6.18 taka for the 0 to 75 slab. On 4 June 2026 BERC withdrew those two increases and announced that 4.63 taka and 5.26 taka stay in force for all distribution companies from June. All other slabs and the 42 taka demand charge are as in the 3 June order.
Did electricity prices go up in June 2026?
BERC announced a new tariff on 3 June 2026 that raised the average retail price by 16.68%. On 4 June it withdrew the increase for homes using up to 75 units. Lifeline stays at 4.63 taka and the 0 to 75 slab stays at 5.26 taka. The higher slabs (76 units and above) did go up, and the demand charge did not change.
Do I pay the demand charge if I use no electricity?
Yes. The demand charge is for the power capacity reserved for your connection, so it applies even in a month with zero use. DPDC says it also applies to postpaid customers. On a prepaid meter, charges for months without a recharge are added together and taken at your next recharge.
Why does my prepaid recharge give fewer units than I expected?
A recharge is not all energy credit. The meter first takes the demand charge for the month, any meter rent, and 5% VAT. What is left becomes units. The first recharge of each month is usually the smallest in units for this reason. After a tariff change, the first recharge also needs a long token to load the new rates.
Does the calculator include meter rent, late fees or arrears?
Meter rent is added for you. Choose your electricity company, the phase of your meter and who owns it. For a utility-supplied low-tension meter, the calculator uses 40 taka a month for single-phase and 250 taka for three-phase. These are the figures in DPDC and Palli Bidyut notices. You can type the exact rent from your bill to replace it. Late fees and old dues are not worked out. If your bill shows them, type the total in the extra charges box. It is added after VAT.
Are DESCO, DPDC, NESCO, BPDB, WZPDCL and Palli Bidyut prices different?
No. BERC sets one national tariff, and every distribution company bills the same per-unit rates and demand charge. Meter rent practice, prepaid rollout, billing dates and customer service can differ.
Is this website run by BERC or an electricity company?
No. Bidyut Bill Calculator is an independent website. We read the public BERC tariff order and news reports, then turn them into a calculator and guides. For an official bill or a complaint, contact your electricity company.
Peak and off-peak hours for shops and factories
Homes (LT-A) pay the same rate at any hour. Most shops, offices and factories have a flat rate plus separate peak and off-peak rates. The order sets these hours.
| Period | Hours | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Off-peak | 11 pm to 5 pm next day | All time-of-use categories, except EV charging |
| Peak | 5 pm to 11 pm | All time-of-use categories |
| EV charging off-peak | 11 pm to 5 am, and 9 am to 5 pm | LT-D3 and MT-7 only |
| EV charging super off-peak | 5 am to 9 am | LT-D3 and MT-7 only |
Example: a shop on LT-E pays ৳13.82 per unit off-peak and ৳18.43 at peak. That is 33% more at peak. Moving heavy use, such as water heating or machine runs, out of the 5 pm to 11 pm window lowers the energy charge.
Sources and how we keep this page accurate
Rates on this page were last checked on 7 October 2026. They come from the BERC retail tariff order of 3 June 2026 (Order 2026/22, published at berc.org.bd) and BERC's announcement of 4 June 2026 that withdrew the increase for the first two residential slabs. News reports used to confirm the details:
- BSS: BERC withdraws increase for up to 75 units
- The Business Standard: retail tariff raised 16.68%
- The Business Standard: low-income households spared
- Prothom Alo: power tariff rises from June
- Dhaka Tribune: DPDC prepaid meter charges
This is an independent website. It is not run by BERC or any electricity company. Results are estimates and your printed bill is the final amount. Found a mistake? Please tell us and read our about page and disclaimer.