News Desk :
Authorities have instructed the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited to conduct a comprehensive study on the allegation that non-metered consumers of gas pay almost double the amount paid by metered consumers for similar use.
The instruction has been given by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division at a monthly meeting to review the implementation of the Annual Development Programme of the ministry, reports UNB.
“If necessary, Titas can involve the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in conducting the study in a perfect manner” Senior Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division Mahbub Hossain reportedly told the meeting.
A senior official who attended the meeting informed UNB that the issue of disparity between the two categories of Titas Gas consumers was widely discussed there.
It was reported in the meeting that a pre-paid metered consumer uses 40-50 cubic meter of gas and pays around Tk 500-630 a month while a non-meter consumer has to pay almost double at Tk 975 for the same quantity of consumption.
The issue drew special attention as the Titas Gas recently moved a proposal to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to raise the gas price by 117 per cent.
As per the proposal, if it is accepted by the BERC, a single burner user will have to pay over Tk 2000 per month.
The Titas Gas managing director, who was present at the meeting, was asked to explain as to why the company’s prepaid gas meter project is being delayed. Meeting sources said the Titas top executive failed to provide any satisfactory answer. Rather, he said installation of a pre-paid meter costs Tk 23,000 of which 14,000 is the meter’s value and the rest is data centre management cost.
In this case, currently, a consumer pays only Tk 100 per month as the rent of the meter considering 20 years for a meter’s lifetime which is not commercially profitable for Titas, he reportedly said.
