We believe, every electricity bill should reflect nothing more and nothing less than the power a customer has consumed. Yet, for millions of Bangladeshis, this simple expectation is often shattered by what many now describe as ‘ghost bills’�"inflated electricity charges that bear little resemblance to actual consumption.
However, in Bangladesh it is not merely a billing dispute, but rather a significant breach of public trust that demands urgent reform, and the scale of the dilemma is alarming. Bangladesh has around 5 crore electricity consumers, of whom the Rural Electrification Board (REB) serves 3 crore 80 lakh 58 thousand. Around 55 lakh REB customers use prepaid meters, where arbitrary over-billing is virtually impossible unless a meter malfunctions. The overwhelming majority, however, remain on postpaid systems, where allegations of manipulated meter readings continue to surface.
The stories emerging from across the country are deeply troubling. A household in Mirpur saw its monthly electricity bill jump from Tk 4,622 in May to Tk 6,963 in June, despite no noticeable increase in consumption. A factory in Moulvibazar experienced an increase from around Tk 43,000 in March to Tk 1.20 lakh in May, even though production had slowed. A flood of similar complaints have come from consumers served by several distribution companies, suggesting that this is not an isolated problem but a systemic one.
The statistics on system loss raise equally serious questions. REB's system loss increased from 8.16 percent in FY2023-24 to 8.51 percent in FY2024-25. Even more revealing are the dramatic month-to-month fluctuations. In Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity-2, system loss reportedly rose from 11.89 percent in June to 21.16 percent in July. Comparable spikes were recorded in Chandpur, Narsingdi, Manikganj, Chattogram and Jashore.
Such abnormal patterns undeniably strengthen concerns that inflated bills may be used to artificially suppress reported losses before the June financial closing.
If these allegations are proven true, consumers are effectively being forced to pay for inefficiencies, technical losses and even electricity theft within the distribution network. Even worse, inflated consumption often pushes households into higher tariff slabs, increasing the per-unit price without any corresponding increase in actual electricity use. Even if adjustments are made later, those excess slab charges are rarely refunded.
We believe the remedy too is both clear and achievable.
First, every distribution company must base billing strictly on verified meter readings, supported by digital photographs and GPS-stamped data. Secondly, Bangladesh should speed up the roll-out of prepaid and smart meters, which significantly reduce opportunities for manipulation. Thirdly, independent audits of system loss and billing practices must be conducted annually, with findings published for public scrutiny. Meter readers should receive adequate staffing, fair wages and legal protection from unofficial pressure to inflate bills. Finally, regulators must establish swift complaint resolution mechanisms, compensate consumers for proven over-billing while impose meaningful penalties on officials found responsible for fraudulent practices.
In conclusion, electricity is an essential utility, not a revenue-maximising exercise. Restoring confidence in Bangladesh's power sector must begin with one fundamental principle: Every bill must reflect the truth, and every consumer must receive the fairness they deserve.
