State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Saturday said after implementation of the ongoing projects of modernisation of distribution companies will ensure uninterrupted power supply to the consumers.
“Bangladesh’s distribution system is being upgraded like the distribution system of the developed nations. The main goal of the projects will be raising customer service,” he told as the chief guest at a webinar.
Forum for Energy Reporters, Bangladesh (FERB) organised the webinar on ‘Underground cabling to ensure uninterrupted power supply’ in the capital with its chairman Arun Karmakar in the chair. Executive director of FERB Shamim Jahangir moderated the programme, while power secretary Md Habibur Rahman spoke as the special guest.
Managing Director of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) Bikash Dewan presented the keynote paper.
Among others, Professor of BUET Ziaur Rahman Khan, first vice president of BKMEA Mohammad Hatem and president of Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association Md Helal Uddin joined the programme virtually.
Nasrul Hamid said various steps are being implemented to bring the entire power sector under digitization to ensure better service to the customers.
The steps are Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), smart grid, smart meter, Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping, underground cabling, underground substations, prepaid metering system, mobile phone and internet, new connection through online and the net metering guideline, he said.
“Smart prepayment meters will save customer from billing related anomalies,” the state minister said.
Mentioning the outstanding Tk 6,000 crore electricity bill and Tk 9,000 crore gas bill, he said customers will have to co-operate the government with responsibility.
Nasrul urged the FERB to publish objective reports, especially highlighting the good works in the power and energy sector for making it people-friendly.
Power Secretary Md Habibur Rahman said except isolated chars or remote hilly areas, the entire country is now under cent percent electrification.
Overall 99 percent people are enjoying power facility. Those areas of the off-grid will be brought power supply during the Mujib Borsho,” he said.
