The Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) claimed that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) made an undue profit of Rs. 29.7 million during the period from 6 to 31 March of this year, deviating from the recommendations made by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) regarding the fees to be charged for providing new electricity connections.

Early this year, the PUCSL recommended reductions in the costs of various electricity connections with effect from 6 March. The 30-ampere (A) single-phase electricity connection, initially priced at Rs. 49,500, was recommended to be reduced by Rs. 4,000, bringing the new cost to Rs. 45,500. For the 30-A three-phase electricity connection, the previous price of Rs. 86,000 was recommended to be lowered by Rs. 700, making it Rs. 85,300. Additionally, the 60-A three-phase connection, previously Rs. 96,500, was recommended to be reduced to Rs. 93,400 by Rs. 3,100.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (31 July), ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that the CEB implemented the recommendations made by the PUCSL only with effect from 1 April of this year, causing injustice to electricity consumers, and thereby securing an undue profit of Rs. 29.7 million. 

“An undue profit of Rs. 29.1 million was generated from 30-A single-phase connections, Rs. 175,000 from 30-A three-phase connections, and Rs. 461,900 from 60-A three-phase connections. Altogether, the CEB has earned Rs. 29.7 million by ignoring the PUCSL's recommendations,” he said. 

Dhammika further said that they urged the PUCSL to direct the CEB to repay the additional sum of Rs. 29.7 million which was charged as new connection fees to the relevant consumers. “The PUCSL is the power sector's regulatory authority. The CEB has to comply with its directives. However, there is a trend of the CEB ignoring them and this is just one instance. So, we urge the PUCSL to act on the matter, and direct the CEB to pay back unduly earned money,” he said.

On an earlier occasion, despite the PUCSL's directive to reduce the reconnection fee from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 800, effective on 6 March, the CEB had continued to charge Rs. 3,000 until late March. Considering various complaints received regarding the matter including from the ECA, the PUCSL had provided instructions to CEB General Manager Dr. Narendra de Silva, to repay the additional sum of Rs. 2,200 charged from electricity consumers as reconnection fees to the relevant consumers within a period of three months starting from 31 May.

Dr. de Silva was not available for comment.