Home ›› 24 Aug 2022 ›› Editorial
The recent shortage of power caused by a fuel crisis has been behind the recent incidents of load-shedding across the country. The power cuts are disrupting industrial production while common people are suffering due to the hot weather.
The PM has instructed the relevant officials to make an area-based power supply time to ensure the best use of electricity during times of power shortage.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has instructed all government offices to reduce electricity consumption by 25 per cent as part of the government's austerity measures to combat the ongoing energy crisis. "If not unavoidable, meetings in physical presence should be avoided and most meetings should be organised online," the PMO said.
The Cabinet Division had also issued a circular asking everyone to leave their AC temperatures at 24 degrees Celsius.
The government also asked people to end social and cultural functions like marriage ceremonies early and close marketing and shopping malls by 7pm.
The government observed that these instructions were not properly followed and issued other directions on August 17, 2022. The directives include the use of LED light and appropriate colour on the wall to brighten the light, using power saving lighting system in common spaces such as stairs, washrooms, waiting rooms and corridors, and maintaining proper lighting degree or level as per building code, keeping electric bulb clean on regular basis and ensuring maximum usage of daylight, reports BSS citing a press release.
The directive also includes keeping the temperature of air conditioning (AC) at 25 degrees Celsius or above and all windows and doors close while using ACs, using double glazed glass or curtains in windows, keeping AC filter clean on regular basis, ensuring the servicing of the AC at least one time in a year, examining the pipe or duct leakage of AC and ensuring power saving and inverter based AC and fridge. Besides, the government also asked all concerned government offices to use power-saving fans, and keep computers and laptops in power-saving mood.
The government recently rescheduled the office hours from 8:00am to 3:00pm and banking hours from 9:00am to 4:00pm and educational institutions will also have a two-day break to conserve energy.
It has been estimated by the government that till September we have an electricity demand of 14,500MW. We are trying to lower this demand to 12,500MW by imposing some directives to save electricity. If we can do it properly the level of daily load-shedding will hopefully not cross 500MW.
The total production of electricity is less than the demand of the country and it has created many major problems in the normal life of the citizen.
Power cuts also hamper the industrial and agricultural production of the country. The cause was to ensure the supply of electricity for the farmer for the cultivation of rice on which all the citizens are depending on. The Prime Minister also urged the people to consider the matter due to the shortage of electricity and the vital issue of rice
production.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had called upon all to use electricity cautiously because of the global trend of price spiral, power scarcity and looming food crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
But unfortunately, citizens and government officials hardly took any initiative to reduce the consumption of electricity.
This type of reluctance to follow the instruction for austerity for the consumption of electricity was ignored by government officials and the elite of the society.
Bangladesh had a more acute electricity shortage immediately after this government assumed power in 2009. After assuming the office of Prime Minister, the PM directed the administration not to misuse the electricity during peak time due to a shortage of electricity. Despite that instruction from the PM, the officials in the administration often failed to adhere to her instruction.
According to a report published in a vernacular daily on April 27, 2010 the Deputy Commissioner, Rangpur, violated the instructions of the government in respect of electricity wastage. Despite the instruction given by the PM, DC of Rangpur along with other district administrations misused the electricity during peak time by way of recreational activities. It was reported in the same newspaper that though there was inadequate electricity in Rangpur city, by abusing its power, the District Administration misused the electricity by playing sports under floodlight. This was a clear violation of the instruction of the government. An officer must perform the duties by law, but they often failed to perform the duties and responsibilities as per the constitution.
Many shop owners are using too many bulbs in their commercial places, which is unnecessary and is creating power supply disruption to other users. They even use 20-40 bulbs in a small space and are unnecessarily consuming electricity and depriving other people.
A writ petition no. 3540 of 2010 seeking instruction from the Supreme Court and was moved by Advocate Manzill Murshid, President, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). There were some more writs against misuse of electricity by some clubs such as Dhaka Club, Officers Club, Gulshan Club and Uttara Club and rules issued by Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, power distribution companies and authorities of the clubs.
The petitioner at the outset submits that the duty and responsibility vested upon the administration are to follow the instructions of the government. The respondents are also duty-bound to obey the provision of law. It is stated further here that in many places, electricity connection was being used by illegal means with the help of the corrupt people of the Electricity Department and the government is being deprived of huge money in this way.
A bench of the High Court Division of Supreme Court consists of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Farid Ahmed delivered the verdict in October 2011. The Court observed that, if such kinds of illegal means are not stopped, the suffering of the general people will increase. Many shop owners are using excess bulbs in their commercial place, which is unnecessary and is creating an obstruction to other users of electricity. They even use 20-40 bulbs in a small space and are unnecessarily consuming electricity by depriving other people. While hearing the instant application, this Court observes the following:
1. Every citizen must be cautious about the use of electricity and be on guard so that it is not misused.
2. Some decree of austerity is to be maintained in the use of power/electricity and under no circumstances should there be any wastage.
3. The clubs' concern should have their power generating system. However, there is no bar on playing tennis, but one must be on guard so that the consumption of electricity in any manner is not misused or wasted.
4. Electricity theft must be reduced by applying technical solutions such as tamper-proof meters.
5. Managerial methods such as inspection and monitoring in the clubs regularly are necessary to prevent misuse of electricity and reduce consumption.
6. Energy-saving bulbs should be used in tie clubs and public places.
Keeping in mind the above-mentioned observations, we need realise that the problem has to be resolved by creating awareness amongst the users so that there is no misuse of power.
It seems that Bangladesh could overcome the earlier crisis and again there was shortage of electricity due to excessive price of the primary fuels like LPG and others. But the habit of the responsible officials and other citizens is yet to change.
The writer is Non-Government Adviser, Bangladesh Competition Commission. He can be contacted at [email protected]
