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Prepaid Electricity Meter Unit Calculator Bangladesh 2026
Estimate how many electricity units you get from a prepaid meter recharge in Bangladesh, using the current residential slab logic and tax deductions. No account needed — numbers update as you type.
June 2026 changed two things people notice immediately: the first residential slab and lifeline figures were revised, and prepaid meter rent was removed. This page helps explain why a recharge gives you the number of units it does.
Step By Step
How to Use This Calculator
6 steps
- Pick your utility so the page matches the context you are using.
- Enter the recharge amount in taka.
- Choose meter phase if you want the setup noted correctly, even though rent is now abolished.
- Turn on Lifeline only if the connection actually qualifies for it.
- The tool removes VAT and duty first, then buys units through the slab system in order.
- Check the unit total, tax amount, and slab split against your recharge receipt.
Worked Example
Worked Example: BDT 1,000 Recharge
Use this sample to sanity-check your inputs and understand what the final result represents.
- 1Recharge amount: BDT 1,000.
- 2Tax deduction at 10%: usable energy balance = BDT 909.09.
- 3First 75 units at Tk 5.26 cost BDT 394.50.
- 4Remaining BDT 514.59 buys 60.54 units at Tk 8.50.
Final Result
A BDT 1,000 recharge gives about 135.54 kWh after tax, with no meter rent or demand charge deducted under the current prepaid setup.
Methodology
BERC Prepaid Meter Calculation Formula
This section explains the calculation logic, assumptions, and source material used to make the result more trustworthy and easier to verify.
1. Energy balance: - Energy balance = Recharge amount / 1.10 - This removes 5% VAT and 5% government duty
2. Fixed monthly deductions: - Prepaid meter rent is now treated as abolished in the current setup used here
3. Slab allocation: - Units are bought progressively through the residential slab bands - Lower slabs are filled first, then the next slab starts
4. Typical residential bands used here: - Lifeline: Tk 4.63 - Slab 1: Tk 5.26 - Slab 2: Tk 8.50 - Slab 3: Tk 9.10 - Slab 4: Tk 9.62 - Slab 5: Tk 15.01 - Slab 6: Tk 17.35
Practical Guidance
Practical Tips for Prepaid Users
- 1If your monthly use is usually under 50 units, confirm whether the connection is officially tagged for Lifeline.
- 2The first big jump is after 75 units. That is usually where recharge value starts to feel lower.
- 3Digital recharge is easier to track because you keep a transaction history.
- 4Learn the basic keypad codes for your own meter model. They save time when you need balance or emergency credit quickly.
- 5If a recharge seems off, check for arrears or emergency-credit recovery before assuming the slab rate is wrong.
- 6Heavy summer AC use can push a household into more expensive slabs faster than expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do prepaid recharges not convert one-to-one into units?+
Because the recharge first loses tax, and the remaining balance then buys units through the slab structure. If the connection has other recoveries, those can affect the result too.
Do all utilities use the same residential slab idea?+
For residential users, the slab logic is broadly similar across the major Bangladesh distribution companies, even if administration and meter handling differ.
Why does the first recharge of a month sometimes feel different?+
That usually happens because of how monthly billing recovery, prior balance, or utility-specific adjustments are handled inside the meter account.
Can a second recharge in the same month give a different number of units?+
Yes. If part of the month has already pushed consumption into a higher slab, later recharges may buy fewer units per taka.
Sources & official references
- BERC tariff notices for residential electricity
- Government notification on prepaid meter rent changes
- NBR VAT rules relevant to electricity supply
- DESCO, DPDC, and BREB customer billing guidance
Disclaimer
This tool is for estimation only. Actual unit output can vary because of utility-side adjustments, old dues, emergency credit, or future tariff changes. Check your own provider's live rules if the recharge amount is decision-critical.