KGDCL to Disconnect Gas Lines for Customers Who Do Not Install Prepaid Meters

News Desk    |    ১২:০৬ পিএম, ২০২৫-০২-০৩

Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) is taking a hard stance against customers who have applied for prepaid meters but have not yet installed them. The company is planning to disconnect their gas connections, with this action expected to be taken within the next few months, according to sources.

Officials involved in the project have stated that the deadline for installing prepaid meters for residential customers is set for June. The project's duration has already been extended once, and there will be no further extension. As a result, the company has to follow the ministry's directives and become stricter in this matter.

It has been reported that 130,000 applications have been submitted for prepaid meters so far, and out of the 100,000 meters required, 63,000 customers have already installed them. The rest of the customers have shown little response. Regular advertisements in newspapers, text messages, and letters have been sent to them, and sometimes project officials even visit customers personally.

Md. Nahid Alam, the Director of the Prepaid Meter Installation Project and Deputy General Manager of KGDCL, said, "As per the government's decision, everyone must install prepaid meters. Our policy also mandates the installation of meters. Gas will only be provided through meters. For those who have applied but have not yet installed the prepaid meters, we will take a hard stance within a couple of months. Simply put, if they do not install the meter, we will disconnect their gas supply."

In response to a question, he added that there are plans to bring other customers gradually under the prepaid meter system. They will be included in the program soon.

Customers Reluctant Due to Installation Costs, KGDCL Explains

Before installing the prepaid meter, customers are required to pay for a separate line from the riser to the kitchen at their own expense. Installing a new pipeline in the building and laying a line behind each stove can cost between 4,000 and 12,000 BDT per connection. Many customers are unwilling to incur this large expense, and as a result, even though they were initially interested in installing the prepaid meters, they have become discouraged due to the high cost.

However, KGDCL believes that, aside from the installation cost, gas theft might also be a contributing factor. According to some KGDCL officials, many customers are using more gas than the government-designated limit. Currently, the cost of 60 cubic meters of gas for two stoves in a residential area is 1,000 BDT, which is the government-approved limit for gas usage at that price. Many customers are consuming more gas than this limit, leading to concerns that their bills will increase if they install a meter, which is why they are hesitant to do so.

One anonymous customer shared: "There are 26 flats in my building. We would need to install 26 separate lines from the riser, and each line would cost 4,000 to 12,000 BDT. I cannot afford to spend that amount right now."

Another customer said, "The gas bill might be reduced, but the tenants pay the bills, not me. What benefit do I get? On top of that, installing a new line now will incur a lot of expenses—who will pay for that? Plus, we will also have to pay the monthly meter rental."

The project to install 100,000 prepaid meters for residential connections was approved on May 18, 2021. With a budget of 24.16 crore BDT, the project was initially set to be completed by June 2023. However, the project duration was extended by two years, and now it is scheduled to finish by June 2025.