• SOC on Energy to submit proposal this week

The Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Energy and Transport has completed preparing the necessary proposals to reduce the electricity bill. 

The Committee Chair Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda MP said that the proposal is expected to be submitted to Parliament this week.

The Chair pointed out that ordinary electricity consumers as well as manufacturers and export manufacturers have been put in a lot of trouble due to the increase in the price of an electricity unit. Accordingly, the electricity bill which was increased by 18% in October of last year (2023) has been proposed to be removed by 100% again. It has also been suggested that the Ceylon Electricity Board is making a lot of profit due to the heavy rainfall and that the benefits of that profit should therefore be given to the electricity consumers.

The Chair also stated that it has been proposed to add the electricity produced by rooftop solar panels installed to the national system as soon as possible and to exempt the import of solar panels from Value Added Tax.

It has also been proposed to revise the electricity charges only twice a year and to introduce a package system in the payment of the electricity charges.