48pc surge in household gas prices

The gas tariffs for domestic users have been increased by 48 per cent, which will be phased in March and June, resulting in further draining of the clients’ wallets. According to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), the domestic users of single-burner ovens will have to pay Tk 750 instead of Tk 600 from March 1 and Tk 900 from June 1. The users of double-burner ovens will have to pay Tk 800 instead of Tk 650 from March 1 and Tk 950 from June 1.
The decision was announced at a BERC press conference held at the commission’s office in the capital yesterday. At the briefing, Monowar Islam, the newly appointed chairman of the BERC, said the average gas tariffs have been increased by 22.7 per cent and the
new prices will come into effect from the beginning of March and June respectively.
The government decision to raise the tariffs comes one-and-a-half year since the previous price hike. According to the BERC chairman, from March 1, the gas tariffs will be increased by a weighted average of 11.35 per cent and from June 1, the tariffs will be increased by another 11.35 per cent.
The gas price for CNG-run vehicles will also be increased to Tk 38 from Tk 35 in March 1 and Tk 40 in June 1.
Those, who pay their gas bills for household use through meters, will have to pay Tk 9.10 per cubic metre from March and Tk 11.2 from June. They are currently paying Tk 7 per cubic metre
The gas price for power plants will be increased to Tk 2.99 per cubic metre from Tk 2.82 from March 1 and Tk 3.16 from June 1.
The gas price for captive power plants will be increased up to Tk 8.98 from Tk 4.18 in the first phase and Tk 9.62 at the second stage.
For fertiliser companies, the gas tariffs have been increased from Tk 2.58 to Tk 2.64 in March 1 and to Tk 2.71 in June 1.
For industries, the gas tariffs have been raised to Tk 7.24 from existing Tk 5.86 in March 1 and Tk 7.76 in June 1.
The gas prices for the tea sector will be Tk 6.93 in March 1 and Tk 7.42 in June 1 from its current charge of Tk 5.86.
The tariffs for commercial gas connections will be Tk 14.20 from March 1 and Tk 17.04 from June 1 from its current tariff of Tk 9.47.
The commission for the two gas transmission companies Sundarban Gas Company Distribution Limited and Paschimanchal Gas Distribution Company Limited will be increased to Tk 0.2654 from Tk 0.1565 per cubic metre.
About the rationale behind the price hike, the BERC chairman said that the relatively poorer people in the villages pay more prices for gas usage than the urban people. “So I don’t think the new prices are unfair.”
The BERC chairman also said that the notion that the prices of gas have been increased because of LNG was not right.
BERC members Mahmudul Haq Bhuiyah, Rahman Murshed, Abdul Aziz Khan and Md Mizanur Rahman were present at the press conference.
In august this year, the BERC held an eight-day public hearing on gas transmission tariff and price hike proposals submitted by the state-owned gas transmission and distribution companies. The companies were Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited, Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited and Sundarban Gas Company Limited. According to their proposals, domestic users would have to pay Tk 1,200 every month instead of Tk 650 for double burners, which was an 85 per cent hike. Besides, Tk 1,100 had
been proposed for single burners, up from the current Tk 600. For the consumers who pay their gas bills for household use through meters , the increased tariff was proposed to be Tk 16.80 instead of Tk 7 for per cubic metre of gas, an increase of 140 per cent.

48pc surge in household gas prices

The gas tariffs for domestic users have been increased by 48 per cent, which will be phased in March and June, resulting in further draining of the clients wallets. According to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), the domestic users of single-burner ovens will have to pay Tk 750 instead of Tk 600 from March 1 and Tk 900 from June 1. The users of double-burner ovens will have to pay Tk 800 instead of Tk 650 from March 1 and Tk 950 from June 1. The decision was announced at a BERC press conference held at the commissions office in the capital yesterday. At the briefing, Monowar Islam, the newly appointed chairman of the BERC, said the average gas tariffs have been increased by 22.7 per cent and the new prices will come into effect from the beginning of March and June respectively. The government decision to raise the tariffs comes one-and-a-half year since the previous price hike. According to the BERC chairman, from March 1, the gas tariffs will be increased by a weighted average of 11.35 per cent and from June 1, the tariffs will be increased by another 11.35 per cent. The gas price for CNG-run vehicles will also be increased to Tk 38 from Tk 35 in March 1 and Tk 40 in June 1. Those, who pay their gas bills for household use through meters, will have to pay Tk 9.10 per cubic metre from March and Tk 11.2 from June. They are currently paying Tk 7 per cubic metre The gas price for power plants will be increased to Tk 2.99 per cubic metre from Tk 2.82 from March 1 and Tk 3.16 from June 1. The gas price for captive power plants will be increased up to Tk 8.98 from Tk 4.18 in the first phase and Tk 9.62 at the second stage. For fertiliser companies, the gas tariffs have been increased from Tk 2.58 to Tk 2.64 in March 1 and to Tk 2.71 in June 1. For industries, the gas tariffs have been raised to Tk 7.24 from existing Tk 5.86 in March 1 and Tk 7.76 in June 1. The gas prices for the tea sector will be Tk 6.93 in March 1 and Tk 7.42 in June 1 from its current charge of Tk 5.86. The tariffs for commercial gas connections will be Tk 14.20 from March 1 and Tk 17.04 from June 1 from its current tariff of Tk 9.47. The commission for the two gas transmission companies Sundarban Gas Company Distribution Limited and Paschimanchal Gas Distribution Company Limited will be increased to Tk 0.2654 from Tk 0.1565 per cubic metre. About the rationale behind the price hike, the BERC chairman said that the relatively poorer people in the villages pay more prices for gas usage than the urban people. So I dont think the new prices are unfair. The BERC chairman also said that the notion that the prices of gas have been increased because of LNG was not right. BERC members Mahmudul Haq Bhuiyah, Rahman Murshed, Abdul Aziz Khan and Md Mizanur Rahman were present at the press conference. In august this year, the BERC held an eight-day public hearing on gas transmission tariff and price hike proposals submitted by the state-owned gas transmission and distribution companies. The companies were Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited, Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited and Sundarban Gas Company Limited. According to their proposals, domestic users would have to pay Tk 1,200 every month instead of Tk 650 for double burners, which was an 85 per cent hike. Besides, Tk 1,100 had been proposed for single burners, up from the current Tk 600. For the consumers who pay their gas bills for household use through meters , the increased tariff was proposed to be Tk 16.80 instead of Tk 7 for per cubic metre of gas, an increase of 140 per cent.