How to lower your electricity bill: find the loads that matter
Learn what a saved unit is worth at each slab, what your devices cost, and how to find your biggest loads with a one-hour meter test.
What one saved unit is worth
A unit you save is taken off your top slab, not your average one. At 450 units a month, the units you save are worth ৳15.01 before VAT, not the lower rates at the start of the month. That makes the same saving worth far more for a heavy user.
| Where your last units fall | Rate per unit | Worth with 5% VAT | Saving 20 units a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–75 units | ৳5.26 | ৳5.52 | ৳110 |
| 76–200 units | ৳8.50 | ৳8.93 | ৳178 |
| 201–300 units | ৳9.10 | ৳9.55 | ৳191 |
| 301–400 units | ৳9.62 | ৳10.10 | ৳202 |
| 401–600 units | ৳15.01 | ৳15.76 | ৳315 |
| 601 units and above | ৳17.35 | ৳18.22 | ৳364 |
What your devices cost
Units = watts × hours a day × 30 ÷ 1,000. The wattages are examples only. Read the label on your own device.
| Device | Units a month | Cost at ৳8.50 slab (with VAT) | Cost at ৳15.01 slab (with VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED bulb (example 9 W) | 1.4 | ৳12 | ৳21 |
| Old 60 W bulb | 9.0 | ৳80 | ৳142 |
| Ceiling fan (example 75 W) | 22.5 | ৳201 | ৳355 |
| Television (example 100 W) | 12.0 | ৳107 | ৳189 |
| Laptop (example 60 W) | 10.8 | ৳96 | ৳170 |
| Water pump (example 750 W) | 22.5 | ৳201 | ৳355 |
| 1.5-ton AC (check label) | 336.0 | ৳2,999 | ৳5,296 |
Find your biggest loads in one evening
- Switch off everything you can, including fans, chargers and the router if you can spare it.
- Write down the meter reading and the time.
- Switch on one device only, such as the AC. Leave it for exactly one hour.
- Write down the reading again. The difference is that device’s units for one hour.
- Multiply by the hours you use it each day and by 30 to get its monthly units.
- Repeat for two or three more devices.
This test needs a device that draws enough power to move the meter. It works well for an AC, a geyser, a water pump or an iron, and poorly for a phone charger.
A 30-day plan
| Week | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Take a dated meter photo each morning. Write down the daily units. | You learn your normal day and your high days. |
| Week 2 | Run the one-hour test on your three biggest devices. | You find where the units go. |
| Week 3 | Change one thing at a time: AC hours, old bulbs, fridge door seals and clearance. | You can see which change worked. |
| Week 4 | Compare daily units with week 1. Multiply the saving by your top slab rate. | You see the taka saved. |
Fixed charges you can control
The demand charge is ৳42 for each kW of sanctioned load for a home, and ৳90 for most shops. A shop with 8 kW of sanctioned load that really needs 5 kW pays 3 × ৳90 = ৳270 a month for the extra. Ask your company office about a load reduction before you apply, because a load below your real need can cause trips.
Meter rent is ৳40 (single-phase) or ৳250 (three-phase) if the company supplied the meter. Prepaid users who bought their own meter pay no rent. Ask your company about the rules for your meter.
Habits that work
- Keep the AC thermostat higher and the filter clean. Both cut running time.
- Do not leave hot food in the fridge. Keep door seals tight and leave space behind the back panel.
- Use LED lights and switch them off when you leave a room.
- Run water pumps by timer or by float switch, not by hand.
- Unplug chargers and devices you do not use.
- Use the appliance cost calculator before you buy a new appliance.
Questions readers ask
How can I reduce my electricity bill in Bangladesh?
First find your biggest loads with the one-hour meter test. Then cut running hours of the AC, replace old bulbs with LEDs, keep the fridge in good condition and stay under 400 units, where the rate jumps from 9.62 to 15.01 taka.
How do I calculate the cost of an appliance?
Units = watts × hours a day × 30 ÷ 1,000. Multiply by the rate of the slab your last units fall in, then add 5% VAT. A 75 W fan used 10 hours a day uses 22.5 units a month.
Is it worth staying under 400 units?
Yes. The 401 to 600 slab costs 15.01 taka per unit, against 9.62 taka for the 301 to 400 slab. That is 56% more for every unit above 400.
Will a lower sanctioned load reduce my bill?
It lowers the demand charge by 42 taka per kW for a home. Do it only if your real need is lower. Ask your company office first.
Do LED bulbs really save money?
Yes. A 9 W LED used 5 hours a day uses 1.35 units a month. A 60 W bulb used the same way uses 9 units.
Does a prepaid meter help me save?
It helps you watch your balance and your daily use. The money saving from the 0.5% rebate is small, so the benefit is mostly awareness.
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.
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.