The gas marketing regulation, drafted more than three years ago, on October 25, 2019 has not been finalised yet, though normally it takes three to four months to complete the process.
The 78-page regulation covers all aspects of gas marketing. It is known that if any type of residential or commercial gas connection is found to be illegal, the consumer will have to pay a 12 months (one year) equivalent bill as penalty.
Various issues including prevention of use of illegal gas, ensuring balanced distribution, adjustment of gas load, and above all increasing revenue are included in these regulations.
Mahbub Hossain, Senior Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division instructed Petrobangla to finalize the gas marketing regulations in a recent meeting and submit them through power point presentation.
Kamruzzaman, director of Petrobangla (operation) said that they have already made a presentation on gas marketing regulations, which will be submitted to the Energy Division soon.
The government wants to introduce a new method of using energy. Meanwhile, the government has announced that private entrepreneurs will be able to import and market fuel oil and LNG. As a result, the gas marketing rules must contain the impression of these things.According to the draft, pre-paid meter based consumers who tamper with gas or use unauthorized gas will be liable to pay a penalty according to the offence, including temporary disconnection. In this case, the customer will have to pay an additional bill penalty of maximum 12 to minimum 3 months.
On the other hand, industrial consumers will have to pay an additional bill penalty of two to six months including temporary disconnection of the line if gas rigging or gas misuse is below 4,000 cubic feet per hour.
The draft also states that if the gas line is disconnected due to violation of any conditions related to gas connection, after that if gas is used illegally without the permission of the authority, a fine equal to the maximum gas bill of 6 months from the date of inspection to the date of identification will have to be paid.
