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The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has set the price at which electricity generated by privately-owned commercial solar power plants will be sold to distribution companies. According to the new order, distribution companies will purchase electricity from these plants at a rate ranging from a minimum of BDT 6.98 to a maximum of BDT 7.11 per unit.
BERC issued this order on Wednesday (September 30) following a public hearing. The newly determined prices will come into effect from October.
As per BERC’s order, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will purchase electricity at BDT 6.98 per unit for the 33 kilovolt (kV) level and BDT 7.11 per unit for the 132 kilovolt (kV) level.
Furthermore, transmission charges have also been set for supplying electricity generated from commercial solar power plants to the national grid. Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) will be paid this charge at BDT 0.3789 per unit for the 230 kilovolt (kV) level, BDT 0.3825 per unit for the 132 kilovolt (kV) level, and BDT 0.3897 per unit for the 33 kilovolt (kV) level.
For centralized coordination and billing of electricity from renewable energy-based plants, BPDB’s coordination and settlement charge as a single buyer has been set at BDT 0.05 per unit. Concurrently, BERC has also determined various conditions for power plant operation, billing, electricity accounting, and settlement.
BERC stated that BPDB submitted a consolidated proposal on this matter on April 1. Subsequently, between July 7 and 30, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh and six distribution companies submitted separate proposals. After reviewing these proposals and relevant documents, a public hearing was held on August 23. The commission issued its final order after analyzing the information gathered during the hearing and the statements from the concerned parties.
To increase the use of renewable energy, the government has provided opportunities for establishing commercial power plants. Under this system, large industrial enterprises and export-oriented companies can directly purchase electricity from private producers. Buyers and sellers can determine electricity prices among themselves. However, BERC will set the price of electricity sold to distribution companies and the charges for using the national grid.
Under this system, a maximum of 20 percent of the electricity generated by commercial power plants can be sold to distribution companies. Additionally, there is an opportunity to establish solar power plants anywhere in the country and supply electricity to other areas through the national grid. For this, prescribed transmission and distribution charges must be paid.
In October 2025, the government published the ‘Policy for Enhancing Private Participation in Renewable Energy-Based Power Generation, 2025’ as a gazette. This policy for the first time provided legal recognition to commercial power plants, direct power purchase agreements with buyers, and the use of the national grid. Clean source-based power plants, including solar, wind, biomass, and waste, are considered green commercial centers under this policy.
However, an electricity generation license from BERC must be obtained to operate commercial power plants. Concurrently, the policy also includes provisions for government protection in case investors incur losses due to changes in laws or policies.