Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will now consult with the government prior to any move towards holding a public hearing on proposals on retail power tariff hike.
"We think we should first consult with the government before starting any process for public hearing on the submitted proposals”, Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, member (power) of the BERC, said, reports UNB.
Such remarks from the BERC member came against the backdrop of the government's latest move to amend the BERC Act 2003 to create scope for the government to take arbitrary decisions on raising retail and bulk power and energy prices.
“After the proposed amendment, the BERC should not move into any conflicting situation”, Bazlur Rahman said.
The Cabinet on November 28 approved an amendment to the BERC Ordinance 2022 to empower the government to set fuel tariff on its own under special circumstances without waiting for the commission's public hearing and decision.
The approval came at the Cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at the PMO, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing the media at the Secretariat.
He said the BERC can wait for up to 90 days to review and take a decision on fixing tariff rates and this is a long time. The amendment is being done so that the government can set the fuel price on an urgent basis in a situation like what prevails now.
The possibility of importing fuel and energy under private arrangement was discussed at the meeting and the relevant authorities were given direction in this regard, he said.
However, BERC Chairman Abdul Jalil, a former secretary of the government, was reluctant to make any comment before going through the gazette notification on the proposed amendment.
"Let me see the gazette notification first… Then the commission will decide on any issue relating to public hearing or tariff fixation”, he added.
Meanwhile, all the six state-owned power distribution bodies submitted their respective proposals on raising retail power tariff in subsequent of the bulk power tariff hike.
Sources said the six entities — BPDB, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco), Northern Electricity Supply Company PLS (Nesco), West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) — have placed almost an identical proposal to raise retail power tariff aby about 20%.
They moved to submit their proposals following the BERC's decision to hike the bulk power tariff by 19.92% with effect from December 1.