Conserving power

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has laid emphasis on eco-friendly power generation which would provide cheaper electricity to the consumers. Speaking at the Energy Awards Ceremony at the BMICH Tuesday where several corporate bodies received awards for energy efficiency innovations, the President said the Government had laid special focus on environment-friendly power generation which would bring benefits to the consumer.

Today, electricity supply has reached the far corners of the country which at one time were abandoned outposts. More than 85 percent of the country is provided with electricity today. Needless to say there is a heavy demand on the national grid. Added to this, rapid industrialization of the country and the mega development projects undertaken by the Government in the post-war reconstruction all make for soaring power demands.

Thankfully the mega power generation projects are on track so that in a couple of years demands could be appeased to a great extent. However, while more and more power generation sources are needed to meet the present unprecedented demand it is equally important to stress on the need for conservation. This is because heavy consumption not only adds to the electricity bills but it also taxes consumers in other ways too.

We say this because today power takes up a very high percentage of overhead costs in production and manufacture of consumer goods resulting in inflated prices. This is why the steps taken to reward the corporate sector for their energy conservation methods should be lauded. Because if energy conservation moves are adopted by manufacturing companies, their cost of production will invariably be reduced thus benefiting the consumer.

Hence conservation will profit the public directly and indirectly. That is why the President said “we should go for more profitable and environment-friendly power generation which could bring more benefits to the consumers.”

Most Companies today adopt energy efficiency methods to reduce cost of production while some others who are self reliant in their own power requirements also sell their surplus power to the national grid thus augmenting the national supply. Such efforts should receive all the encouragement and even special incentives granted to such entities by way of tax rebates.

This will spur others too to adopt energy efficiency systems thus relieving the strain on the national grid. Factories and manufacturing plants which rely heavily on the power should also be told to rotate their worker rosters so as to avoid the peak hour consumption which would help in easing the demand.

It goes without saying that these are ideal ways to conserve power until such time our power generation plants now under construction are fully commissioned. In the meantime, we should strive to develop alternative energy sources to meet the extra demands and make electricity cheaper for the consumers. Today, most investors have second thoughts about Sri Lanka due to the heavy electricity costs that are said to be the highest in the region. Therefore the sooner we find cheaper energy sources the better it will be for the national economy.

While looking for cheaper energy the subject of energy conservation on the part of the public too is important. This should be promoted on a national scale with more vigour because all efforts so far have not borne the desired results. Today, there is wanton waste of domestic electricity which has come to be taken for granted especially by a spoilt, pampered gadget oriented society who only thinks about their creature comforts.

Government institutions are no less guilty in this connection. Burning street lights during the day time, the casual air in the Government Departments to idle fans, air conditioners etc are good examples of this. Much power could also be saved by avoiding unnecessary night-time illuminations most of which are carried out by pirated power.

Energy Conservation should be introduced as a subject in schools so that the value of this would be carried into the adult life of the students.

The President also said that the Government had granted approval for 200 mini hydro power projects some of which are already completed. An accumulation of these could be a big boon in the Government’s quest for cheaper electricity to the public.