Your electric bill has increased. You don’t have any new appliances. There’s not been much change in the weather. So what’s going on? In much of Bangladesh, the answer is not your usage, it’s your meter.
Faulty or fast-running electricity meters are a real, but under-reported problem, affecting consumers connected to BPDB, DESCO, DPDC, NESCO and rural REB alike. Here’s how to tell if yours could be one of them.
Look Out for These Warning Signs
The most obvious warning sign is a sudden, unexplained jump in your monthly bill. If your unit consumption has increased by 30-50% or more, with no change in your habits or household appliances, then it’s worth taking a closer look.
Other signs to look out for include your prepaid balance disappearing at an unusually fast rate while your consumption is low; the meter display showing readings that do not tally with your estimates; or the meter ticking away even when all switches and appliances in your home are turned off at the main board.
Easy Self Test
Switch off every switch, appliance and circuit breaker in your home except for the main connection to the meter. Then watch the meter for 10-15 minutes. If you have an analogue meter, the disc should come to a halt. The reading on a digital meter should not increase. If either keeps moving, your meter may be faulty, or there may be an unofficial draw on your line.
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See How your Bills Change Over Time
Review the last six months of your bills and track unit usage month over month. A really bad meter will usually show a consistent upward trend that doesn’t correlate with seasonal changes or changes in lifestyle. Prepaid users can check their actual usage against the recharge amounts to see the same pattern.
How to File a Complaint in Bangladesh?
If you believe your meter is faulty, do not open or interfere with it – this is illegal and can lead to penalties. Instead, call your distribution company directly. DESCO customers can lodge complaints at their nearest DESCO office or through the DESCO OCSMS online portal. BPDB consumers can go to the nearest sub-divisional office and submit a written request for a meter test. According to Bangladesh’s electricity rules, a consumer can apply for an official meter accuracy test, and the utility is required to do one within a reasonable time.
Record everything. Take dated pictures of your meter readings and keep copies of your bills. If the meter is determined to be faulty, you are entitled to a billing adjustment for the period in question.
Never ignore a suspicious bill. In Bangladesh’s power sector, consumers who speak up get results, but only when they know what to look for.
SUMMARY: A faulty electricity meter can quietly drain your wallet long before you realise something is wrong. This guide helps Bangladeshi consumers — both prepaid and postpaid — identify the key signs of a fast-running or malfunctioning meter, how to test it at home, and the right steps to file a complaint with your distribution company.
