No surcharge for delayed payment of electricity bills: BERC

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has asked power distribution companies not to charge any extra charge for delayed payment of electricity bills due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

It issued an order on Tuesday in this regard.

The energy regulator’s order came in line with the Power Division’s decision not to apply any extra charge for delayed bill payments for the months of February to April.

As per the order, the Late Payment Surcharge (LPS) will not be applicable for only the household electricity consumers for their delayed payment of bills for the four months.

Earlier on Monday, an official circular issued by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division said a huge number of household consumers have to be present at banks to pay gas bills which may increase the risks of coronavirus transmission.

Considering this, the government decided to relax the household consumers’ bill payment timeframe as defined by the Gas Distribution Regulations 2014, it said, adding that the consumers can now pay their bills of February-May at any convenient time in June 2020 without any extra charge.

Meanwhile, the Power Division issued a similar circular asking the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to take steps to relaxing the deadline of payment of February-April bills.

Now, the electricity distribution companies will take measures as per the BERC instruction.