The Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) stated that due to the ongoing delay in implementing the electricity tariff revision originally scheduled for last September, the public will miss out on the relief that they should receive during the peak hydropower generation period.
The ECA held a protest in Divulapitiya yesterday (31 October) against the delay in implementing the electricity tariff revision scheduled for September.
Following the protest, ECA Secretary General Sanjeewa Dhammika told The Daily Morning that despite the Government’s policy to revise electricity tariffs quarterly, only two revisions have occurred so far this year.
“The Government decided that tariffs should be revised quarterly. The third revision was due in September but it is yet to reach the final stages. With October over, the third revision will likely be in this month or December (next month), meaning that a fourth revision will not occur.”
Also, he noted that recent substantial rainfall across many parts of the country led to peak hydropower generation, which should have benefited the public. “Hydropower generation is very low cost, and it has been at its peak for months. However, with ongoing tariff revision related delays, the public is not reaping its benefits. Although the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the latter currently has no Commissioners/Members. In this situation, we are not sure whether a tariff revision will happen at all.”
When queried by The Daily Morning as to whether the absence of Commissioners/Members at the PUCSL would further delay the tariff revision, CEB Chairperson Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya said: “I am not in a position to comment on it. In the past, the PUCSL Commissioners/Members have been actively involved in the process. This is something you should inquire about from the PUCSL.”
Attempts to contact the PUCSL proved futile.
The CEB recently submitted a proposal to the PUCSL, seeking the latter's approval to reduce the electricity tariffs by 4-11% with effect from December, and subsequent submissions suggested a reduction by 6%. However, the ECA stated on a previous occasion that the tariffs could be lowered by 30-35% based on the CEB's past income and profit status.