The power generation during the peak evening hours was 541 megawatt (MW) more than the demand for the same on May 05 last (Monday). So there was no load-shedding on that day across the country.
In fact, according to the Power Development Board (PDB) statistics, there was no power outage on the first five days of the current month in any place of the country due to insufficient power generation. There could be power outages at some places owing to other technical reasons.
However, in the two previous weeks, there was load-shedding for at least seven days, ranging from 113 MW to 536 MW.
So, in terms of power availability, the situation is now better than any time before, particularly during these hot summer days. But one has to accept the fact that the problem does exist and the solution that has been put in place is very much temporary and highly expensive in nature.
Yet statements coming from some power sector honchos tend to give an impression that all the problems involving power generation have been resolved. Even they make attempt to ridicule the power subscribers by the explaining the 'good side' of load-shedding that, according to them, helps people to 'keep in mind the past' power situation.
Even the staunchest critic of the government cannot contest the fact that the power situation has improved to a great extent. But the people at the helm of power ministry do know the price that the 'success' in power generation has been exacting from the power subscribers and the national exchequer.
Nearly five and a half years have gone by since the immediate past grand-alliance government promised to find a durable and permanent solution to power problem. A quick-fix and expensive solution was found through the deployment of rental power plants. Promise was that the plants would be phased out within the shortest possible time through the installation of large and medium scale conventional power plants.
No new large and medium power plants, however, could be pressed into service in keeping with the promise. Rather the controversial rental power plants have got extension one after another following expiry of their contracts. No amount of criticism could deter the power ministry from extending the tenure of these fuel-guzzling plants.
There is no denying that the government cannot afford any discontinuation of the rental power plants under the prevailing circumstances. It has talked a lot about high profile power projects over the last few years, but could not install a single one to help narrow an ever-widening demand-supply gap.
The government does know that the extension of tenure of rental power plants is a low-risk strategy. The use of rental power plants involves higher cost which necessitates frequent rise in power tariff. The government in fact has taken recourse to this option. It has hiked the power tariff nearly half a dozen times during the last five and a half years and had to digest lots of criticism. Yet it has stuck to this strategy since the risk is far greater in the case of power shortage which in the absence of rental power plants would become severe. Frequent or prolonged load-shedding during the hot summer days, usually makes the power subscribers angry and the possibility of a section of them becoming violent at some places cannot be ruled out.
Thus, the strategy chosen by the power ministry under the current situation which is more of its own creation appears to be right one. But the attempt to ridicule the power subscribers that too standing on an unstable ground has surprised many.
Undeniably, the extent of load-shedding these days is not unbearable. But for many, the power bills have become rather unbearable, particularly after the latest hike in power tariff. The government can come up with lots of statistics on power tariff in other South Asian countries in support of the tariff hike. But that does not anyway lessen the plight of the low and middle income people.
The continuous use of rental power plants is not a wise and inexpensive solution to the power problems. Less-expensive solutions should have been in place by now. The government should ensure early implementation of coal-based power plants and overhaul thoroughly the old Power Development Board (PDB) plants. Besides, it should look into the allegations of irregularities, financial or otherwise, involving the operations of the rental power plants.
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