Carrie Tan on Energy Transition Measures and Other Amendments Bill

Do not look only at "supply side solutions" to achieve energy sufficiency but look at the "demand side solutions" as well, said MP Carrie Tan. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Sep 9), she stressed the need to shift from focusing on energy efficiency and expecting cheaper energy to simply getting used to “using less and potentially having less”. She noted the assurance that power rationing would be a last resort measure but urged the Government to build up confidence that things “will be okay” even if there is a nationwide power rationing exercise. She suggested public education and small-scale electricity rationing exercises for short windows of time in limited geographical areas. Categories of essential and non-essential activities could be created to educate the public about the amount of electricity they consume. The effort could even be “gamified”, she said. “Imagine the benefits of a nationwide 'Unplug Day', where we take a collective digital detox from our gadgets,” she said. This would create a window of time for families to get out to nature to play and bond, get to destinations without GPS, go to the beach and enjoy the sea breeze or have heart-to-heart talks without digital distractions. “In the space created by non-access to digital and electronically enabled entertainment, maybe Singaporeans may make even more babies - I hope.”