Commercial electricity bill per unit in Bangladesh (2026)
Understand the 2026 LT-E commercial electricity rate for shops and offices, including DESCO and DPDC examples, demand charge, VAT, and peak/off-peak billing.
If you run a shop, office, restaurant or small business, “commercial electricity bill per unit” is not the same as a household rate. Under the June 2026 BERC tariff, most low-tension commercial and office connections sit in category LT-E. The useful starting number is ৳15.36 per unit on a flat meter, but the final bill also includes demand charge, VAT and any meter-specific items.
Commercial electricity rates in Bangladesh in 2026
The current LT-E rates are:
- Flat energy rate: ৳15.36 per unit (kWh)
- Off-peak: ৳13.82 per unit for an eligible time-of-use meter
- Peak: ৳18.43 per unit for an eligible time-of-use meter
- Demand charge: ৳90 per kW of sanctioned load each month
- VAT: 5% on the applicable energy and demand charges
These figures come from the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission retail tariff order, effective from the June 2026 billing cycle. The same national tariff category is used by DESCO, DPDC and the other distributors; the distributor name does not by itself create a cheaper commercial unit rate.
How much is a 100-unit commercial bill?
On a flat LT-E meter, 100 units cost 100 × ৳15.36 = ৳1,536.00 in energy. If the connection has a 5 kW sanctioned load, demand charge is 5 × ৳90 = ৳450. The subtotal is ৳1,986 and 5% VAT is ৳99.30, giving an example total of ৳2,085.30 before meter rent, arrears or other line items.
500 and 1,000-unit examples
| Monthly units | Energy charge | With demand + VAT |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | ৳1,536.00 | ৳2,085.30 |
| 500 | ৳7,680.00 | ৳8,536.50 |
| 1,000 | ৳15,360.00 | ৳16,600.50 |
The table assumes a postpaid LT-E connection, a flat meter and 5 kW sanctioned load. The 500-unit calculation is 500 × ৳15.36 = ৳7,680 energy, plus ৳450 demand and ৳406.50 VAT. At 1,000 units, the energy charge is ৳15,360; with the same load and VAT, the estimate is ৳16,600.50.
Why your DESCO or DPDC bill may not equal units × ৳15.36
The flat rate is a good estimate only when the meter is billed as flat LT-E. Check these lines before comparing your bill with a calculator:
- Sanctioned load: a 10 kW connection adds ৳900 demand charge, not ৳450. Every extra kW adds ৳90 before VAT.
- Time-of-use meter: eligible smart meters split units into peak and off-peak. Peak use costs more; shifting a load to off-peak can help, but only if the saving beats the business disruption.
- Meter rent and service charges: these appear separately from energy and demand.
- Arrears, late fees or adjustments: the payable amount may include an earlier balance.
- Wrong category: a small industry (LT-C1), EV charger (LT-D3) or medium-tension connection uses a different rate schedule.
Flat versus peak and off-peak: a worked example
Imagine a 500-unit month on a time-of-use meter: 300 units off-peak and 200 units during peak. Energy is (300 × ৳13.82) + (200 × ৳18.43) = ৳7,832. With a 5 kW demand charge of ৳450 and 5% VAT, the estimate is ৳8,696.10. The same 500 units on a flat meter would be about ৳8,536.50 in this example. TOU is not automatically cheaper; the result depends on when the business actually uses electricity.
The general peak window is 5:00 PM–11:00 PM and the general off-peak window is 11:00 PM–5:00 PM the next day. Your distributor’s meter schedule and category control the bill, so confirm the display or statement before changing operating hours. The site’s TOU guide explains the exceptions.
Check your commercial bill in three steps
- Find the category (usually LT-E), units consumed and sanctioned load on the bill.
- Check whether the statement shows flat, peak and off-peak units. Do not apply ৳15.36 to every unit if it is a TOU bill.
- Enter the category, units and load in the bill calculator, then compare energy, demand and VAT as separate lines.
For a quick rule of thumb, start with ৳15.36 per unit for a flat LT-E meter, then add ৳90 for every kW of sanctioned load and 5% VAT. That will get you close; meter rent, TOU timing and old balances explain most differences.
Sources and method
Rates were checked against the BERC retail tariff order and the site’s low-tension tariff table on 17 October 2026. Examples assume LT-E, postpaid billing, 5 kW sanctioned load, no meter rent and no arrears. Your distributor bill can therefore differ by a few taka or more when those items apply.
Related pages
Low Tension (LT) rates
LT-A, LT-B, LT-C, LT-D and LT-E rates — the categories most homes and shops fall under.
LT-A, LT-E, LT-C — which category are you on?
A side-by-side comparison of Bangladesh's low-tension tariff categories — homes, shops, and small factories — with real worked examples.
TOU tariff explained
Industrial and large commercial consumers in Bangladesh can opt into TOU rates. We explain when it actually pays off — and when it doesn't.
Change your load
Adding a big appliance, or using less than before? Here's how to change your sanctioned load, and what it does to your demand charge and security deposit.