Applying for a new electricity connection
A new connection in Bangladesh is a documentation-plus-inspection process, not a same-day service. Knowing the checklist and the wiring standard your inspector will check for saves at least one wasted site visit.
Documents checklist
- National ID (NID) or passport copy of the applicant
- Proof of ownership (land deed / registered rental deed) or a no-objection letter from the owner if tenant-applied
- Recent holding tax receipt or municipal trade licence for commercial premises
- Site/location map or a hand-drawn sketch showing the plot relative to the nearest road and existing pole
- Passport-size photographs of the applicant (typically 2)
- Wiring diagram or completion certificate from a licensed electrical contractor/supervisor for the internal wiring
- TIN certificate for commercial, industrial or three-phase connections
Application fees
Fees below are the standard new-connection/load-change application fee bracket by service level — separate from any estimate for poles, transformers or a long service drop.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| LT — Single phase | ৳ 120 |
| LT — Three phase | ৳ 360 |
| MT and HT | ৳ 1,200 |
| EHT | ৳ 2,400 |
Step-by-step process
1. Submit application
File the application form (paper at the local office, or online through the utility's self-service portal where available) with the documents above and the applicable fee.
2. Load estimation & category assignment
The utility's field staff verify or assign your sanctioned load in kW based on your declared appliances, and confirm your consumer category (LT-A residential, LT-E commercial, etc.).
3. Site survey
A survey team checks feasibility from the nearest pole/transformer, distance for service drop wire, and whether a new pole or transformer upgrade is needed for larger loads.
4. Wiring and earthing inspection
An inspector checks that internal house wiring meets safety standards — correct wire gauge for the sanctioned load, a working earthing/grounding rod, a distribution board with an MCB/fuse of the right rating, and no exposed live wiring.
5. Estimate & demand note payment
For connections needing new poles, transformer capacity or a long service line, the utility issues a cost estimate that the applicant must pay before work proceeds; simple connections skip this.
6. Meter installation & energisation
Once wiring passes inspection and fees are cleared, the meter (prepaid or postpaid depending on utility rollout) is installed and the connection is energised.
Typical timelines
A straightforward single-phase residential connection close to an existing pole, with no transformer upgrade needed, typically takes 2–4 weeks from application to energisation once documents are complete. Connections requiring a new pole or transformer capacity increase can take 6–12 weeks depending on materials availability and the estimate-payment step. Rural BREB connections through a Palli Bidyut Samity can take longer where new line extension is required. Incomplete documents or a failed wiring inspection are the two most common causes of delay — get your internal wiring checked by a licensed electrician before the utility's inspection to avoid a second visit.
Load estimation: how much should you declare?
Declare your realistic simultaneous maximum, not the sum of every appliance you own. A typical small flat runs 1–2 kW comfortably (lights, fans, TV, fridge, one AC); add roughly 1.2–1.5 kW per additional AC unit and 2 kW for an electric geyser if used. Under-declaring risks a penalty if your actual demand is later found to exceed the sanctioned load; over-declaring means paying demand charge — see the tariff page — for capacity you never use. When in doubt, declare slightly above your realistic peak rather than below it, since load-increase applications later repeat the fee and inspection cycle.
Related
Not sure which company to apply to? Find your distributor first. Installing solar alongside your new connection? See net metering.