Lately there has been a lot of noise about energy conservation by the energy commission and other stakeholders in the energy sector. But frankly I don't see a need for that. I don't see what energy I would be conserving when I barely get enough. I have outlined some reasons why I think the energy conservation campaign is a fail right from take-off.
How will it benefit me?
The campaign for energy conservation did not start today. Ever since the energy crisis began, ECG and other energy stakeholders have been calling on Ghanaians to conserve energy. You would imagine by now, a consumer would have made some gains but that is not the case.
For example I pay my electricity bills promptly and after three months of these never ending power outages. I don’t see any difference. I have always by ECGs suggestion turned off all appliances that I do not use at a particular time.
With the exception of weekends that I am barely at home, I iron my clothes on weekends and try as much as possible to unplug gadgets that I do not use. So then I ask all this for what? Is it yielding any results? Nooooooo
Where does my saved energy go to?
Well I don’t believe everyone is buying into the idea so what happens to those saving energy. Are we doing it for the industries or for some individuals who are on the lookout for the extra?
Sometimes when I see people wasting energy I can’t help but feel my efforts are wasted. Why should I be conserving energy I ask? Don’t even start with the “do your part thingy”. There is no mechanism in place for ECG to determine which customer is saving more energy and as such does not have to suffer from the ever famous (Dumsor). Is this fair enough?.
Maybe when I know for sure my saved energy is being of benefit to me. Then I wouldn’t my part in this campaign is for nothing.
Dumsor
This needs no introduction, but I have to mention it. Why should I conserve energy when even after following through with the campaign for energy conservation, my power still goes out? This is not enough motivation. The call, although in the right direction, lacks merit. It’s just like asking someone to save food when they barely get 3 square meals a day. Shouldn't the ECG and the energy commission be ashamed to ask people to conserve energy?
For now, the situation majority of Ghanaians find themselves with regard to the energy crisis is not conducive to request energy conservation. Anyway, when I have enough and I can be assured of constant electricity flow when I take the pains to conserve, then perhaps I would be motivated to join the campaign again. For now I am going to use as much energy as I can.
Although I believe it is a laudable initiative that needs to be supported, I don’t think now is the right time.
