Gas, power tariff to go up

Tariff of gas and electricity may go up in January 1 as retailers have applied to the energy regulator to adjust the prices to help them cut losses.

The gas price will go up in all categories of consumers, Salim Mahmud, a member of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), told The Daily Star today.

The bulk tariff of electricity, the prices retailers pay to Power Development Board, will go up first and then the retail tariff, the prices end consumers pay to retailers, will be adjusted, he said.

"The prices will be finalised through public hearing," he said, adding that the Berc plans to conduct the three hearings in December, and then increase the prices in January.  

Depending on the users, gas prices might go up between 5 and 122 percent, while PDB has proposed an increase of 18.12 percent in the bulk electricity rates.

The retail tariff will come after the rise of the bulk rates.