Outreach: Natore, November 2009

The BERC outreach program with rural consumers on "Electricity Regulation and Consumers Right" was an indispensable initiative. This is the first ever energy regulatory consumer seminar in Natore and as such, lesson learning for both the regulators and the consumers.
ICEA local partner LawDev (Bangladesh) facilitated this BERC outreach with contribution from Bhokta Moncho, Natore District Committee. It took place at the Cicily Chinese Restaurant in Natore on 14 November 2009. Representatives from a range of organizations including BERC members, consumer advocates, General Managers of Natore PBS 1 and 2, Union Parishad elected Chairpersons and members, legal professionals, teachers, students, farmers, consumer representatives and Bhokta Moncho.

The meeting began with a welcome speech from Md. Shibli Sadik (General Secretary, Bhokta Moncho, Natore) and thereafter, one by one, the common consumers started to voice their sufferings resulting from inadequate and irregular rural electricity services. Issues were raised regarding corruption within PBS system, lack of liaison between the authority and consumers, undue lengthy application process, discrimination in providing electricity in mosques, temples and at religious programs, unscheduled load-shedding as barrier to better education and irrigation system, unrealistic electricity bills, illegal monitory exchange (bribes) while providing electricity connections, selling pillars, damage of machines for low voltage, ignoring the causes of the ultra-poors, absence of land acquisition policy for grounding electricity connection facilities; and ignorance about demand side management.

Dr. Tureen Afroz articulated her delight to witness the co-operation among common consumers, BERC, and PBSs. She explained the need for BERC members to reach out to the people and expressed appreciation for the BERC efforts taken so far. She urged the energy consumers to be in continuous guard of their rights and to be willing to constructively participate in the country’s energy regulatory process because it is their duty as citizens.

Natore 1 PBS General Manager, Mr. Rezaul, addressed the consumers and conceded that there are of course some institutional weaknesses within the PBS system. However, he pointed out a few limitations, such as, increasing population of the country resulting in excess demand for electricity, lack of investment, etc. He nevertheless committed his sincere support to the customer group within his jurisdiction.
Natore 2 PBS General Manager, Mr. Probeen Kumar De, admitted that the PBS system is not totally free from political pressure and control. However, he too committed himself for better services to the customers in exchange of cooperative attitude.

The session concluded with the speech from BERC members, Md. Emdadul Haque and Mr. Salh Din Ahmed. Member Emdadul Haque emphasized: (1) there is no quick solution to the electricity excess demand problem; (2) energy audit is must for the transparency improvement of the energy sector; (3) ADR for consumer disputes is a better alternative; (4) BERC's role in solving customer disputes, if not solved at industry level; and (5) need to consider alternative renewable energy sources in rural Bangladesh. Member Salahud Din Ahmed commented: (1) collaboration between consumers, regulators and utilities is a must to build a strong Bangladesh and to meet the need of the time.

The meeting was presided over by the President of the Bhokta Moncho, Natore District Committee, Mr. Majnu. The
enthusiastic participation by the local' people had made the meeting a real outreach program in its true sense.