HC questions BERC decision to set gas transmission charge

The High Court yesterday questioned the legality of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission’s (BERC) decision to set the gas production, transmission and distribution charges.

The court issued a rule asking the respondents to show causes why the BERC’s decision on October 16 last year should not be declared illegal.

BERC, its chairman, secretary to energy and mineral resources division under power, energy and mineral resources ministry and chairman of Petrobangla have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by convener of Consumer Association of Bangladesh Mubassher Hossain challenging the BERC decision.

Citing from the petition, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, lawyer for the petitioner, told The Daily Star that the gas transmission cost is required at Tk 0.2565 per unit but charge was fixed earlier at Tk 0.1565 per unit.

The BERC could have increased the charge by Tk 0.1000/unit to adjust the requirement but the BERC without following the findings in the public hearing most abruptly fixed the charge at Tk 0.4235/unit, he said.

The lawyer said though the gas price for the consumers was not increased, the charges of gas production, transmission and distribution were tactically increased as the gas companies have proposed for the increase.

The government will have to pay more subsidy for hiking the charges of gas production, transmission and distribution and ultimately the people will have to pay more, Barrister Jyotirmoy added.