Energy charges, protests, and consumers

In India, any hike in energy prices leads to a slew of protests, mostly by opposition political parties and mostly meant for the TV cameras. Yesterday, the Kerala state government announced a hike in energy prices across the board. The decision has met with opposition and the opposition political parties are conducting state-wide protests against the price hike.

Now, Kerala requires 3400 MW of power daily, but power from hydel sources alone is just 1600 MW. There are no other major sources of power. Since Kerala faces the biggest opposition in India in the name of environmentalism against new power projects such as hydel projects and thermal plants, all new projects land in controversy. Announce a project and the courts will be flooded with Public Interest Litigations (PILs), and the newspapers will be filled with statements and lengthy op-eds.

So, what exactly can the hapless people do in such a situation? The real solution depends very much on the immediate need for a change in mindset in Kerala, along with other steps to improve energy efficiency such as reducing power theft and transmission loss. One solution that should be immediately tried is solar energy as Kerala is blessed with abundant sunshine. The argument that solar cells or technology is very costly no longer holds true. Solar power can end Kerala's energy crisis to a great extent.

Protesters should understand that as the demand for power keeps on increasing, it will be difficult for the notoriously inefficient state electricity boards and the government to meet that demand. To supply power endlessly to the unregulated demands of the people doesn't make much sense in the long run. The truth is as energy supply increases, its consumption also increases. People are not going to use less power; instead, they will consume more and more based on their lifestyle.

The most environmentally sound solution then is to encourage less consumption of energy. Yes, this is a philosophical proposition. When energy prices are hiked, use less energy so that it contributes to the state pool and brings down the monthly power bills.

The greatest eco-friendly solution to environmental problems is instilling a culture of less resource consumption voluntarily. Switching off your TV for about an hour in the evening will contribute more to Kerala's energy crisis than empty, violent protests and statements by politicians and self-styled intellectuals. Energy, unfortunately, is no longer a subsidized good for people who can pay for its usage. It can be a subsidized good for Kerala's poor. If you want to pay less, consume less. If you want to protest the price hike, consume power less, and then pay less.