The Energy Commission announced that the Commission is fully operational from the 2nd January 2002.
The Energy Commission, formed under the Energy Commission Act 2001, has assumed all the responsibilities of the Department of Electricity and Gas Supply as embedded in the Electricity Supply Act 1990 and the Gas Supply Act 1993 respectively. The Electricity Supply Act 1990 and Gas Supply Act 1993 have both been amended to allow the Energy Commission to take over these responsibilities from the previous Department.
Apart from enabling the Energy Commission to take over the functions from the previous Department, the amendments to the Electricity Supply Act 1990 had other amendments as well. One specific amendment, for example, is to confer to the Energy Commission, in a clearer manner, the responsibility of matters relating to energy efficiency.
In addition to all the functions imposed on the Energy Commission under the Electricity Supply Act and the Gas Supply Act, it is also to have the following functions:-
(a) to advise the Minister on all matters concerning the national policy objectives for energy supply activities;
(b) to advise the Minister on all matters relating to the generation, production, transmission, distribution, supply and use of electricity as provided under the electricity supply laws;
(c) to advise the Minister on all matters relating to the supply of gas through pipelines and the use of gas as provided under the gas supply laws;
(d) to implement and enforce the energy supply laws;
(e) to regulate all matters relating to the electricity supply industry and to protect any person from dangers arising from the generation, production, transmission, distribution, supply and use of electricity as provided under the electricity supply laws;
(f) to regulate all matters relating to the supply of gas through pipelines and to protect any person from dangers arising from the supply of gas through pipelines and the use of gas as provided under the gas supply laws;
(g) to promote efficiency, economy and safety in the generation, production, transmission, distribution, supply and use of electricity and in the supply of gas through pipelines and the use of gas supplied through pipelines;
(h) to promote and safeguard competition and fair and efficient market conduct or, in the absence of a competitive market, to prevent the misuse of monopoly or market power in respect of the generation, production, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity and the supply of gas through pipelines;
(i) to promote the use of renewable energy and the conservation of non-renewable energy;
(j) to promote research into, and the development and the use of, new techniques relating:-
(i) the generation, production, transmission, distribution, supply and use of electricity; and
(ii) the supply of gas through pipelines and the use of gas supplied through pipelines;
(k) to encourage and promote the development of the electricity supply industry and the supply of gas through pipelines including in the area of training;
(l) to encourage and promote self-regulation in the electricity supply industry and the supply of gas through pipelines;
(m) to carry out any function conferred by or under the energy supply laws;
(n) to review the energy supply laws and to make the necessary recommendations to the Minister; and
(o) to carry out all such activities as may appear to the Commission requisite, advantageous or convenient for the purpose of carrying out or in connection with the performance of its functions under the energy supply laws.
In terms of the organisational structure, the Energy Commission has two major divisions, each headed by Deputy Chief Executive Officers:-
i. Operation and Technical Division
ii. Corporate Management Division
The Operation and Technical Division is responsible for the safety regulation of the supply and use of electricity and gas. The core functions of the Division include:
· Approving electrical and piped gas installations
· Approving electrical and gas appliances
· Examination and certification of skilled personnel and contractors for the electricity and gas supply industries
· Promotion and education on the safety and efficient use of energy
· Prescribing codes, practices and standards for the electricity supply and piped gas supply industries
The Corporate Management Division is responsible for the administration, human resource management, finance, information technology and corporate communication functions.
In addition to this, two other divisions have been established namely, the Planning and Economic Division and the Legal Division.
The Planning and Economic Division is responsible for undertaking energy supply and demand planning for the country. It also deals with energy supply policy matters.
The Legal Division will undertake all the legal functions of the organisation.
The Chairman, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the overall administration, management and the day affairs of the Commission. The current staff strength of the Commission is 122 of which 59 are executives.
The Commission consists of 7 members who are appointed by the Minister of Energy, Communications and Multimedia, after consultation with the minister in charge of matters relating to gas supply, that is, the YAB Prime Minister. The commission consists of:-
i. The Chairman (also the Chief Executive Officer),
ii. Two members from the government sector, and
iii. Four members from the private sector.
The Energy Commission is currently operating from Levels 15, 19 and 20 of Menara Dato’ Onn, Putra World Centre, Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
The Energy Commission also operates eight regional offices headed by Regional Directors. They are situated in the former regional and branch offices of the Department of Electricity and Gas Supply, with the exception of the Johor Office, now operating at Suite 18A, Aras 18, Menara Ansar, No. 65 Jalan Trus, Johor Bharu.
There are no major changes to the electricity and gas regulations formulated under the Electricity Supply Act and Gas Supply Act. This ensures a smooth transition, as far as the services to the public and industry players are concerned. Thus the public can be assured that they can go about applying for the services as they have done previously under the Department of Electricity and Gas Supply. All licences, permits and certifications issued under the previous Department are still valid.
However, the main objective of forming the Commission is to enable it to meet the new challenges of the industry and for the industry to be further developed in an efficient manner.
Thus, while aiming for a smooth transition with no major changes as far as the consumers are concerned, things will definitely be different in the future. Despite the changes, the public can expect to get energy supplies and services at reasonable prices.
As a fairly independent body, the Energy Commission will have the responsibility of managing its own resources, including financial and human resources. This will enable it to improve its capabilities and capacity and thus to contribute towards enhancing the capacity of the Energy Commission to carry out its responsibilities better.
