Gas distribution companies fail to supply gas but collect bills every month

Gas distribution companies already collect bills from households based on estimated consumption. On top of that, customers do not receive gas most of the time. Yet they are still required to pay the fixed monthly bill. Expressing frustration over the situation, Shyamoli resident Liza Akter said, “We do not get gas properly, yet we have to pay the bill every month. When will we get relief from this suffering?”

Residents of Mohammadpur recently formed a human chain to protest the gas crisis. Speakers at the event demanded a permanent solution to the prolonged gas shortage, uninterrupted gas supply, and an end to collecting bills without providing regular service.

Gas distribution companies purchase gas from gas fields and sell it to consumers. They pay for the amount of gas they receive through meters. In other words, they pay less if they receive less gas and more if they receive more. However, they collect a fixed monthly bill from consumers regardless of the actual supply. As a result, the distribution companies are collecting a substantial amount of excess revenue.

Although there is no precise estimate of the excess amount collected, discussions with relevant officials suggest that the distribution companies collect an additional Tk 40 billion to Tk 50 billion annually from residential consumers alone. If factories and other sectors are also taken into account, the amount would be even higher.

Former Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Member for Gas Makbul E Elahi Chowdhury believes it is unfair and unreasonable to collect bills without supplying gas. He told Agamir Somoy, “If customers do not pay their gas bills, the distribution company can disconnect the connection. But the distribution companies have not included any provision in the gas connection terms stating that they will not receive payment if they fail to supply gas.”

Sharing his own experience, he said that while serving on the commission, residents of three villages had filed a complaint. “They said that Titas had been demanding bills from them despite not supplying any gas for two years. After reviewing all the information and evidence, I ruled that they did not have to pay the bills. Titas later filed a writ petition with the High Court against that ruling. As far as I know, the case is still pending.”