BERC for common system of accounts in gas sector

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission has signed an agreement with Divine IT Limited and Giga Tech Limited (JV) to implement uniform accounting software for all companies in the sector of gas. The agreement was signed at Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Office in the capital on May 23, 2021.

Rubina Ferdoushy (Secretary, Admin & Law) and Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan (Managing Director, Divine IT Limited) signed the contract on behalf of their respective organization. Md Abdul Jalil, Chairman of BERC and Samira Zuberi Himika, Managing Director of Gigatech Limited along with other officials were present in the ceremony, said a press release.

BERC was established with the objective to create atmosphere conducive to private investment in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity; transmission/tran-sportation, distribution and marketing of gas and petroleum products, to ensure transparency in the management, operation and tariff determination in the energy sector also to protect consumers’ interest and to promote the creation of a competitive market in the country.

The BERC Uniform System of Accounts is a consolidating customized accounting system applicable for gas exploration, production, supply, transmission and distribution entities in Bangladesh such as Petrobangla, BAPEX, BGFCL, SGFL, RPGCL,  GTCL, TGTDCL, BGDCL, JGTDSL, KGDCL, PGCL  and SGCL.

Presently the gas sector entities are using the same form or other different accounting system and some have their own software. Considering these, the Commission has decided to engage a Consultant firm for design, development and implementation of an web-based software for Uniform System of Accounts for gas sector entities and training on that.

The broader objective of the assignment is to provide a complete and dedicated web-based uniform accounting software for gas sector entities to accomplish the regular accounting related activities according to BERC Uniform System of Accounts. The entities/utilities will use the accounting system individually for accounting purposes.

Transparency and accountability are the key characteristics of regulatory decision making as well as corporate governance. Tariff related regulatory decisions are made based on accounting information of the utilities. Utilities day to day recording of financial transactions, compilation, and drawing of financial statements should be correct and homogeneous. With that objective in view the Commission has decided to develop and implement a software for Uniform System of Accounts and to arrange training of the people of gas entities.

Design, develop, supply, installation, configuration, integration, implementation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of web-based integrated and customized Uniform System of Accounts Software for mentioned gas sector exploration, production, supply, transmission and distribution entities followed by BERC Uniform System of Accounts.

The software will be consolidated for production, supply, transmission and distribution entities of the gas sector those include Financial Accounting Management Module, Fund Management Module, Debt/Loan Management Module, Fixed Asset Management Module, Inventory Management Module, Payroll and Related HR Management Module, Project Management Module, Budget Management Module, User Access Management Module and other related task. All modules will be integrated together.

The proposed software is an integrated and customized record keeping accounting solution. In this case, each module mentioned above must have all the necessary integration / links. Each entity will use software and generate reports separately/independently. In this regard, User Access Management Module is to be developed to configure the multi-user roles and responsibilities on real client server architecture.

Divine IT Limited, The creator of PrismERP, renowned ERP/GRP  systems have already established their footprint in government sector entities including Titas Gas, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commision (BSEC), Bangladesh Land Port Authority & over 300 private sector companies.

(AA)