Utility Landscape
Utility services — electricity, water, and gas — are fundamental to building operation. In Bangladesh, utility reliability, capacity, and connection processes present unique challenges that significantly affect site selection, building design, and operational planning.
Electricity: DPDC, DESCO, BPDB
| Provider | Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| DPDC (Dhaka Power Distribution Co.) | Dhaka South, parts of Dhaka North | dpdc.org.bd |
| DESCO (Dhaka Electric Supply Co.) | Parts of Dhaka North (Mirpur, Uttara, Tongi) | desco.org.bd |
| BPDB (Bangladesh Power Development Board) | Outside Dhaka + rural electrification | bpdb.gov.bd |
Connection Types
| Type | Voltage | Capacity | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT Single Phase | 230V | Up to 25 kW | Small shops, residences |
| LT Three Phase | 400V | Up to 200 kW | Offices, small commercial |
| HT Connection | 11kV or 33kV | 200 kW+ | Large commercial, industrial, data centres |
Reliability and Backup
| Aspect | Current Reality | Building Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Load shedding | 2-6 hours daily (varies by area and season) | Generator is essential for any commercial building |
| Voltage fluctuation | Common — especially in older grid areas | Voltage stabilisers needed for sensitive equipment |
| Power quality | Harmonic distortion in industrial areas | UPS with line conditioning for IT equipment |
| New connection | 2-6 months for LT, 6-12 months for HT | Plan utility connections early in project timeline |
Generator Sizing Rule of Thumb
- Office: 15-20 kVA per 100 m² (for AC, lighting, IT — excludes central chiller)
- With central AC: 30-40 kVA per 100 m² (chiller adds significant load)
- Fuel autonomy: Minimum 8 hours at full load — 24-48 hours for critical operations
- ATS: Automatic Transfer Switch for seamless grid-generator changeover
Water: WASA
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Provider | DWASA (Dhaka), CWASA (Chittagong), KWASA (Khulna) |
| Website | dwasa.org.bd |
| Supply hours | Intermittent — typically 2-6 hours/day in many areas |
| Water quality | Variable — not consistently potable from tap. Treatment recommended. |
| Backup | Underground + rooftop storage tanks essential. Deep tubewell as secondary source. |
| Storage sizing | Minimum 2 days consumption in storage (underground + overhead combined) |
| Connection timeline | 1-3 months for new connection |
Water Planning for Buildings
- Office consumption: 45-60 litres/person/day (including toilets, pantry, cleaning)
- Storage calculation: Workers × 60 L/day × 2 days = storage capacity needed
- Pump system: Transfer pump (underground to overhead) + booster pump (for upper floors in high-rise)
- Water treatment: UV or RO treatment for drinking water. Iron removal filter if borehole water used.
- Testing: Annual bacteriological + chemical water quality test from ICDDR,B or BUET lab
Gas: Titas
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Provider | Titas Gas T&D Co. (Dhaka, Mymensingh), other companies for other regions |
| Availability | New industrial gas connections suspended/restricted in recent years |
| Supply pressure | Low pressure issues common — affects cooking, heating, manufacturing |
| Building use | Typically: canteen cooking, water heating, some manufacturing processes |
| Safety | Gas leak detection, proper ventilation, approved fittings required |
| Alternative | LPG cylinder or bulk LPG for areas without piped gas |
Utility Planning Checklist for New Sites
| # | Item | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electricity — confirm provider and available capacity | Contact DPDC/DESCO/BPDB before lease signing |
| 2 | Electricity — LT or HT connection needed? | Calculate total connected load including HVAC |
| 3 | Generator — capacity and fuel supply | Size for full building load or critical loads only |
| 4 | Water — WASA supply availability | Check supply schedule for the area |
| 5 | Water — storage capacity | Verify underground + overhead tank sizes vs demand |
| 6 | Water — deep tubewell availability | Check groundwater table and quality in the area |
| 7 | Gas — availability and pressure | Contact Titas for connection feasibility |
| 8 | Sewerage — WASA sewer or septic? | Verify sewer connection or septic system adequacy |
References
Insights & Guidance
- Electricity: load shedding (2-6 hrs/day) makes generators essential. HT connection (11kV+) needed for large commercial buildings.
- Water: WASA supply is intermittent — 2 days storage capacity is minimum. Annual water quality testing essential.
- Gas: new industrial connections restricted. LPG is the alternative for areas without piped gas.
- Generator sizing: 15-20 kVA/100m² (office without central AC), 30-40 kVA/100m² (with central AC).
- Plan utility connections early — HT electricity can take 6-12 months. Don't assume utility availability.
Utility reliability directly affects building operation, business continuity, and occupant comfort. In Bangladesh, where grid power is intermittent, water supply is inconsistent, and gas pressure is low, utility planning is not optional — it is a critical part of site selection and building management.
- Insufficient generator capacity — building cannot operate during load shedding.
- No water storage — building runs out of water during WASA off-hours.
- Assumed utility availability — signing a lease only to discover HT connection takes 12 months.
- Electricity connection agreement and sanctioned load
- Generator capacity certificate and fuel contract
- WASA connection and water storage capacity
- Water quality test report (annual)
- Generator room: capacity, fuel tank, maintenance condition
- Water tanks: capacity, cleanliness, pump condition
- Electrical panel: sanctioned load, actual load, capacity headroom
- What is the sanctioned electricity load? Is it sufficient for current/planned occupancy?
- What is the generator capacity and fuel autonomy?
- How many hours per day does WASA supply water? What is the storage capacity?
- Electrical design — licensed electrical engineer for load calculation and connection application.
- Water treatment — water quality consultant for treatment system design.
- Generator — mechanical engineer for sizing, fuel system, and emission compliance.