Prepaid meter guide for Bangladesh
A practical guide to prepaid meters in Bangladesh — how recharge codes work, the 0.5% prepaid rebate, switching from postpaid, and what to do when the meter behaves strangely.
A practical guide to prepaid electricity meters
How recharge tokens work, the 0.5% rebate, switching from postpaid, and what to do when the meter behaves strangely.
What's worth knowing
- Prepaid is not more expensive than postpaid — same BERC tariff applies
- Every recharge automatically gets a 0.5% rebate — ৳5 free on every ৳1,000
- Tokens are meter-specific and single-use; lost ones can be reissued by the vending company
How it works
From recharge to consumed energy
Recharge
Token generated
Enter at the meter
Consume
The rebate
The 0.5% prepaid rebate
Every recharge automatically deducts 0.5% as a rebate. Recharge ৳1,000 and ৳1,005 worth of energy credit is added to the meter. This is the single financial advantage of prepaid over postpaid for an otherwise on-time payer.
Recharge
৳1,000
Rebate
৳5
Credited
৳1,005
The slabs
How slabs apply on prepaid
In DESCO and DPDC the slab counter resets on the first of each calendar month — same as a postpaid bill. In some NESCO and BREB districts the slab counter resets on each recharge, which can change the effective rate if you recharge frequently.
Daily deductions
Friction charges you might not notice
Most prepaid meters deduct a small standing charge daily (covers meter rent and demand charge) — typically ৳1–৳3. Even when you use zero electricity, the balance ticks down. The 5% VAT applies to the energy portion of every recharge. Demand charge is pro-rated daily.
Switching
From postpaid to prepaid
Free in most cases. Apply at your distribution company’s office or app. They schedule a meter swap; the previous bill is settled at the swap date and your new prepaid balance starts at zero with the first recharge.
Troubleshooting
Common problems and fixes
Token entered but balance not added
Meter shows "Tamper" alert
Balance dropping faster than expected
Frequently asked questions
Read next
How to read your bill
Open a DESCO, DPDC, NESCO, or BREB bill and walk through every line with us — units, slabs, demand charge, VAT, and the rebates most people miss.
DESCO vs DPDC
If you're not sure which company supplies your meter, this guide compares DESCO, DPDC, NESCO, BPDB and BREB — coverage areas, rates, and which one is generally cheaper.
Why is my bill high?
Bills above ৳5,000 a month are usually one of nine things, not bad luck. We walk through each cause and how to confirm it on your own bill.
Consumer categories
The category on your meter (LT-A, LT-B, LT-C, LT-D, LT-E, MT, HT, EHT) decides what you pay. Here's exactly what each one means and who qualifies.