Prepaid meter guide: where every recharge goes
See how VAT, demand charge and meter rent are taken from a recharge, how big your first recharge should be, and what the meter codes do.
Where your recharge goes
On the first recharge of each month, the meter takes VAT, the monthly demand charge and any meter rent before anything becomes energy. The 0.5% rebate is then added back. The Business Standard reports that DESCO and DPDC work this way.
| Recharge | VAT (5%) | Demand charge | Meter rent | Rebate (0.5%) | Energy balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ৳1,000 · 1 kW · rent ৳40 | −৳47.62 | −৳42.00 | −৳40.00 | +৳4.56 | ৳874.94 |
| ৳3,000 · 3 kW · rent ৳40 | −৳142.86 | −৳126.00 | −৳40.00 | +৳14.09 | ৳2,705.23 |
How big should your first recharge be?
A recharge below the fixed charges buys no energy that month. The smallest first recharge that leaves anything for energy is 1.05 × (demand charge + meter rent).
| Sanctioned load | Fixed charges (demand + rent ৳40) | Smallest first recharge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ৳82 | ৳86.10 |
| 2 kW | ৳124 | ৳130.20 |
| 3 kW | ৳166 | ৳174.30 |
| 5 kW | ৳250 | ৳262.50 |
Units matter more than taka. A ৳3,000 first recharge on a 3 kW home leaves ৳2,705.23 in energy balance, which buys about 335 units at the home slabs. A second ৳3,000 recharge in the same month has no demand charge or rent, so it leaves ৳2,857.14 before the rebate.
If you skip a month
DPDC says demand charges for months without a recharge are added up and taken at your next recharge. Its example: a 2 kW home that skips 3 months pays 2 × ৳42 × 3 = ৳252 at the next recharge. This is why a small recharge after a long gap can show almost no energy balance.
How much does prepaid save?
Prepaid and postpaid homes pay the same rates. BERC gives prepaid customers a 0.5% rebate on the net bill, not counting VAT. On a 300-unit, 3 kW home with ৳40 rent, that is about ৳13 a month or ৳157 a year. The main benefit is control: you see your balance fall as you use power.
Tokens, balance and emergency credit
After you recharge, you get a token by SMS or from the agent. A normal token has 20 digits, and a keypad meter needs you to enter it and press Enter. After a tariff change, DPDC says the first recharge produces a much longer token of 200 to 220 digits that loads the new rates. Enter every digit.
Codes depend on your company and meter model. Several NESCO meter guides list these keypad codes. Check your meter manual first.
| Code (NESCO smart meter) | What it does |
|---|---|
| 37 | Shows your balance |
| 32 | Shows emergency balance information |
| 39 | Shows how much emergency balance you used |
| 99999 | Requests emergency balance |
NESCO emergency credit is up to ৳200 on single-phase meters and ৳500 on three-phase meters. It is not free, because it is taken from your next recharge. For other companies, ask your office, because codes and limits differ.
Common problems and what to do
- Recharge done, balance did not change: enter the token again on the keypad and press Enter. The recharge is meter-specific, so check the meter number you paid for.
- First recharge looks small: fixed charges were taken first. See the table above.
- Power cut after a tariff change: enter the long token in full.
- Tamper or overload message: do not open or bypass the meter. Call your company.
- You want to see your last token: the My DPDC app shows the last vending token for DPDC prepaid meters.
Questions readers ask
How is a prepaid recharge split?
The meter takes 5% VAT, the monthly demand charge and any meter rent. The 0.5% rebate is added back. The remaining balance is used for units at your slab rates. The first recharge of each month carries the fixed charges.
Why did my prepaid recharge give so few units?
If it was the first recharge of the month, the demand charge, meter rent and VAT were taken first. For a 3 kW home with 40 taka rent, the smallest first recharge that leaves anything for energy is about 174 taka.
What is the NESCO emergency balance?
It is credit you can request when your balance is empty. NESCO smart meter guides list code 99999, with up to 200 taka on single-phase and 500 taka on three-phase meters. It is taken from your next recharge.
Do I pay meter rent on a prepaid meter?
Only if the company supplied the meter. DPDC and Palli Bidyut notices list 40 taka a month for single-phase and 250 taka for three-phase. There is no rent if you bought your own meter.
Is a prepaid meter cheaper than a postpaid meter?
The rates are the same. Prepaid gets a 0.5% rebate, about 13 taka a month on a 2,660 taka bill. Choose prepaid for control rather than a large saving.
Why is my recharge token so long after the tariff change?
DPDC says the first recharge after a tariff change creates a token of 200 to 220 digits that loads the new rates. Enter all digits exactly. Later tokens are short again.
Sources and updates
This guide was checked on 7 October 2026. Rates come from the BERC retail tariff order of 3 June 2026 (Order 2026/22) and the 4 June 2026 change that kept the first two home slabs at ৳4.63 and ৳5.26, which DPDC also lists on its tariff page.
- The Business Standard: how DESCO and DPDC calculate prepaid bills
- BERC: retail tariff order 2026/22 (3 June 2026)
- DPDC official website
This is an independent website, not BERC or an electricity company. Examples are estimates. Your printed bill and your company are the final word. See our disclaimer or tell us about a mistake.