• Defends sufficient time to take decision before tenure expiration mid-July  

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) stated that the expiry of its tenure on 14 July does not prevent it from studying the relevant data and approving the best possible electricity tariff revision.

With the tenure of the current PUCSL ending on 14 July, the Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) alleged on Wednesday (19) that the PUCSL might approve the Ceylon Electricity Board's (CEB) tariff revision proposal without thoroughly studying the relevant data.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (20), PUCSL Member Douglas Nanayakkara denied the allegations, stating that the expiration of their tenure would not disrupt the tariff revision approval process. “The CEB proposes the tariff revision, after which there is a process that includes a public consultation session. This session is set to end on 9 July. Afterwards, we review the CEB's proposal and the public's views. Finally, we announce our decision. The process will proceed as it has in previous instances,” he explained.

Speaking in the Parliament recently, the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that the CEB had proposed to reduce electricity tariff rates for all categories of electricity consumers in July. According to him, the current rate of Rs. 8 per unit for consumers using zero-30 units will be reduced by Rs. 2 to Rs. 6, the rate of Rs. 20 per unit for 30-60 units by Rs. 11 to Rs. 9, the rate of Rs. 30 per unit for 60-90 units by Rs. 12 to Rs. 18, and the rate of Rs. 50 per unit for 90-120 units by Rs. 20 to Rs. 30. If the PUCSL suggests that the tariffs could be further reduced, he said that the Ministry and the CEB are ready to provide their support to do it. The relevant tariff revision proposal has now been submitted to the PUCSL by the CEB. The PUCSL, the power sector regulatory body, recently announced that the public consultation session on the same would be held on 9 July.