Power woes: ‘Energy crisis an outcome of poor governance’

CRCP demands transparency, participatory decision-making to counter the crisis.

Poor governance in the energy sector is the primary cause behind severe energy crisis being faced in the country, said the Consumers Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) in a press release on Wednesday.

The commission called for transparency, accountability, predictability and participatory decision-making to counter the crisis.

The CRCP does not blame the regulatory bodies, such as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, for the crisis but instead the government for “meddling” in the affairs and compromising the authority of the regulatory bodies. It claims that the government’s exclusive, closed-door and non-transparent decision-making results in “unwarranted and rather scourging” outcomes for all the stakeholders.

The CRCP has called for wider stakeholder participation, including the consumers, in the energy conference to be held on April 9, in order to reach a consensus on crucial energy-related issues facing the country.

The commission demanded that the principles of openness and accountability in policy making and time-bound consultative process in planning and regulatory framework be introduced in the energy sector. “These can go a long way in establishing sound energy governance in the country,” it added.

The commission has proposed effective dissemination of information to the common people; introduction of an open policy-formulation process through appropriate amendments in the Rules of Business; regulatory performance audits to be made mandatory after every five years to ensure evaluation of regulatory performance as a regular function; and that transfer considerations in the regulatory bodies and ministries be essentially guided by the sector’s targets, goals and requirements.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2012.