Govt to revert to public hearings for power, gas pricing
The interim government has decided to revoke the rule of setting prices of electricity and gas through executive orders and go back to the method of holding public hearings to fix the prices.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act 2023 is being amended in this regard, according to sources at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
"It was expected that the amendment to the law would be issued in a notification on Tuesday, but it did not happen due to special reasons. The revised proposal for the law will be presented at the Advisory Council meeting next Thursday. The notification for the law amendment will be issued after receiving approval from the Advisory Council," a senior official of the Power Division told TBS today.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
In January 2023, the act was amended, granting the government the authority to determine, revise, or adjust electricity and gas tariffs.
The act states, "Notwithstanding any other provisions of this law, the government may, in special cases and by notification in the official gazette, take measures to ensure the uninterrupted supply of energy in the public interest and to meet the demands of agriculture, industry, fertiliser, trade, and household needs.
"For this purpose, the government is empowered to take prompt and effective measures to increase production, transmission, transportation, and marketing of energy, as well as to determine, revise, or adjust tariffs for electricity production, energy transmission, storage, marketing, supply, distribution, and at the consumer level."
The interim government will now revert to the old method of determining electricity and gas prices through hearings by cancelling Section 34(a) of the law, said the official.
After assuming office on Sunday, Energy and Power Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan told reporters that if necessary, decisions on price adjustments will be made through hearings conducted by the BERC.
Due to the repeated increase in electricity and gas prices, the public's hardship has increased, he said. "Therefore, no decision will be made that will further aggravate the difficulties. We will not increase prices unless absolutely necessary. If needed, the commission will consult with everyone and make decisions following the regulations."
