Government issues urgent directives to all district councils to save electricity

The government has issued urgent directives to all district councils in the country to ensure sustainable energy use and electricity savings. All district councils have been directed to install rooftop solar power systems at their installations by January 31.

The urgent directive was issued by the District Council Branch of the Local Government Division on September 15.

The letter, issued in light of a directive from the Power Division on September 1, was sent to the administrators and chief executive officers of all district councils in the country.

The directive stated that rooftop solar power systems must be installed at all official main buildings at the district and upazila levels under the Local Government Division, as well as at installations under the district councils.

These include district council buildings, auditoriums, dak bungalows, markets and other buildings.

Installing a solar power system with a minimum of two hours of battery backup has been made mandatory at each installation. The directive mentioned that funds from the Annual Development Programme (ADP) or revenue budget can be spent for this purpose.

It further stated that after meeting the electricity demand of the concerned installation through the solar power system, the surplus electricity must be supplied to the national grid through the net metering system.

According to the Net Metering Guidelines, 2025, Tk 10.50 per unit will be received for electricity supplied to the national grid.

As a result, an opportunity will be created for district councils to increase their revenue income. The directive asked self-sufficient district councils to ensure solar power use with their own revenue and ADP funding, as well as to take initiatives to expand it commercially.

On the other hand, district councils that are not financially self-sufficient will implement the programme in accordance with the National Rooftop Solar Programme Implementation Guidelines, with financial and technical assistance from companies listed by electricity distribution entities.

A directive was also given to sign an agreement on non-judicial stamp paper with the solar panel installation company for repair and maintenance over the next 20 years.

In the government directive, district councils have been asked to take urgent necessary measures to complete the solar power installation work within the stipulated time, that is, by January 31, 2027.