CEB seeks approval for another power tariff hike, alleges Electricity Consumers’ Association

By Anuradha Hiripitiyage

Secretary of the Electricity Consumers’ Association, Sanjeewa Dhammika, yesterday (04) alleged that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has sought the approval of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to increase the electricity tariff again so that the CEB can increase the annual revenue by 33 billion rupees.

The CEB has already handed over this proposal, in writing, he said.

“CEB General Manager Eng. Rohan Seneviratne has signed the proposal. Copies have also been sent to the secretaries of the ministries of Finance, and Power and Energy and all members of the PUCSL,” Dhammika said addressing a press conference in Colombo.

He said that the CEB increased tariffs twice in recent times and that the Minister of Power and Energy, his secretary, and the CEB General Manager insisted that there would be no tariff hikes in the near future.

“The CEB is trying to show that they are still making a 33 billion rupee loss. When we study the CEB proposal it is obvious that they want to make money for emergency power purchases. The CEB has proposed to purchase 550 gigawatt hours of emergency power from July to December. The CEB has estimated that this will cost them 20 billion rupees. The CEB wants to charge this from the consumers,” he said.

Dhammika added that according to the Electricity Act CEB can amend tariffs only twice a year. He added that tariffs have been amended twice this year and another hike is against the law.

“We urge the PUCSL to quash this request. However, if the PUCSL approves this illegal request, we will take legal action,” he said.