Onus on us to rationalise power consumption

With the summer heat already hitting peak levels this year, the decision of the Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) to reduce rates on electricity bills for households will offer much-needed consolation. As air conditioners are forced to work overtime to keep homes, schools and workplaces cool and room temperatures at bearable levels, the decision made on Sunday indicates that the authorities are mindful of the people’s concerns and sentiments, which is the need of the hour.

Rising temperatures are often attributed to global warming and climate changes that are direct consequences of rapid urbanisation considering carbon emissions and environmental pollution a necessary evil of any development journey. The APSR decision to reduce rates of per unit electricity consumption bills during the summer months and stabilise unit rates for the year 2024 has been welcomed by many.

However, it is also the responsibility of all citizens and residents in the Sultanate of Oman to contribute to the national cause of cutting zero-carbon emissions by rationalising consumption. It needs no special explanation on how any sort of energy consumption contributes to global warming via carbon emissions.

ASPR has stabilised the rates for the year 2024 at the same rates as in 2023 with an assumption that power consumption will be higher this year as we are still in the early summer days and temperatures have started hitting the roof. It is clear that the smart electricity meter project, though resisted initially, allows households to keep a tab on their consumption patterns and take corrective measures. The reduction rates on the three consumption tiers during the previous May varied.

Consumers in the first tier of 0-4000 kilowatt-hours will receive a 15 per cent cut in their bill value. Consumers in the second tier of 4,001-6,000 kwh will receive a 10 per cent reduction in their bills, while consumers in the third tier of over 6,001 kwh, will receive a 5 per cent reduction.

During June, July, and August, the reduction on the first tier will be 20 per cent of the bill value. Consumers in the second tier will receive a 15 per cent reduction in their bills, while the reduction on the third tier for consumption will be 10 per cent of the bill value.

As we enter the era of global boiling, power bills will continue to bulge thanks to continuous running of ACs. Globally, energy use for air conditioning has been forecast by the World Bank to triple by 2050. One solution is to use energy efficient devices which may reduce the extent to which power demand for air conditioning increases, but behavioural changes like switching off unnecessary devices and lights may also play a part. Energy consumption could be limited by setting the AC thermostat at 24°C, rather than a lower temperature.

The authorities in parts of the world including Japan, India and California have tried to encourage people to set AC units at between 24°C and 28°C, by making recommendations or by introducing regulations on default settings.