The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 was placed in parliament on Thursday which would pave the way for the government to adjust the prices of gas and electricity without public hearings.
Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the ordinance in the House.
President Abdul Hamid promulgated the ordinance on December 1 last year, amending the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act, 2003.
The law ministry issued a gazette that day announcing the amendment that allows the government to adjust the prices of gas and electricity.
Previously, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources used to adjust the prices of fuel oils including diesel, octane, kerosene and petrol without any public hearing, while the prices of gas and electricity were adjusted by the BERC through public hearings.
With the amendment of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act, 2003, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources will not be required to hold a hearing to decide new prices of gas and electricity.
The BERC is an autonomous body which was established based on the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Act, 2003, aiming at improving power and energy infrastructure in Bangladesh. The law was amended thrice in the past.
The Cabinet on November 28 approved an amendment to the BERC Ordinance, 2022 to empower the government to set fuel tariffs on its own under special circumstances without waiting for the commission's public hearing and decision.
