Ref: Legal/Press/04/Energy.55/JSD

CERC Observes Energy Conservation Week

Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad, organised a public meeting on energy conservation at Gajjar Hall, near Law Garden, at 5 p.m. on Monday 20 December 2004, the concluding day of the Energy Conservation Week. Mr. Saurabhbhai Patel, Minister for Energy, Government of Gujarat was the chief guest at the function, which was presided by Mr G. Subbarao, Chairman, Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC).

CERC made a presentation on comparative testing of various electrical products and appliances. The reports of such testings provide consumers with a choice of energy-efficient appliances which consume less energy but are expensive. The pay-back cost of such appliances can be recovered in less than one year.

Prof. Manubhai Shah, Chairman Emeritus, CERC, emphasised the standards for the labelling of all electrical appliances where the power consumption of each appliance has to be specified along with labelling of star. More number of stars will mean a more energy-efficient gadget.

Speakers at the meeting requested the Government of Gujarat to appoint a cell to monitor energy conservation in industrial, commercial, residential and agricultural sectors.

Mr G. Subbarao, Chairman, GERC promised to study all the proposals discussed at the meeting and to do the commission’s best to implement them.

He emphasised the urgent need to control the wastage of electricity in the agriculture sector where the pumps and motors used by farmers are not as per standards, are cheap and assembled, and consume 30 to 40 per cent more energy. He agreed to study a proposal for providing incentives in tariff to consumers who use energy-efficient appliances.

Mr Saurabhbhai Patel linked the availability of the Narmada waters to less consumption of energy by farmers in the State. He stated that Gujarat has taken the lead in the power sector by taking a few bold decisions. The Government is aware of the wastage of power in the agriculture sector apart from Rs. 1800 crore paid per year as subsidy to the GEB to compensate this sector, he added. Mr. Patel stated that the government is planning to provide water, the basic need for farmers, through the Narmada canal as farmers do not need electricity but water. He declared that the State Government has selected 20,000 young boys and girls and formed Bal Urja Rakshak Dal which will be trained in the energy conservation programme. The Government will also conduct competitions among these ‘Rakshaks’ and award prizes for outstanding performances.

Speakers requested the Government of Gujarat to allocate more funds to propagate and publicise Energy Conservation Week on a large scale by organising more such seminars and public meetings.

Date : 21/12/2004
Place : Ahmedabad

Pritee Shah
Editor
INSIGHT - The Consumer Magazine

————————————————————————————————-

CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE
“Suraksha Sankool”, Thaltej, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad - 380 054 (INDIA)
Phone: 079-27489945-46 Fax: 079-27489947
E-mail: cerc@wilnetonline.net
Web Site: http://www.cercindia.org
————————————————————————————————-