Pre paid metres have become headaches, since an excess cost is incurred as these get locked after being used by inexperienced people. But the distribution company say that they are taking rent fixed by the government.
A Power Cell helped the ministry fix the metre rates. GM of Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) Mir Kausar Amir Ali says: “As per the latest tender, the metre price is $28, which is Tk 2,240. Against this, a subscriber has to pay Tk 40 per metre every month.”
Subscribers pay this amount in 56 months which means that the price should be paid off within four and a half years. But if any subscriber rents the metre then payment has to be made for life.
Executive director of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) ATM Harun ur Rashid, says: “The average lifespan of the metres is 10 years but some run more or less than that. When a subscriber rents a metre, we give all sorts of services and if a metre becomes inoperative we change it.”
But pre paid metres are still not available in the market. Distribution companies do not have any system to sell metres so subscribers are forced to rent them. Consequently, companies earn money renting the metres and through selling power.
For new users, the fear is that pre-paid metres often get locked and distribution companies say that this happens when metres are used wrongly. To unlock Tk 600 is charged. This locking system has been used to prevent tampering.
Energy specialist Shamsul Alam adds: “Companies cannot explain on whose decision rent is being taken as rent for metres and subscribers have to pay year after year.”
“The extra rent taken by the companies is not legally proper. The matter may be resolved in the new directive about power, but if needed, we will go to court.”