Payment of electricity bills...No surcharge, no red bills, no disconnections

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

The Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday warned  officials not to add  a surcharge to the monthly electricity bills,  take action by issuing red bills or  disconnect the electricity supply to consumers. 

• The consumers in areas where  police curfew has been imposed are unable to receive their monthly electricity bills. Certain people are unable to pay their bills even though they have received them
• During the discussion the Minister requested the consumers who live in curfew relaxed areas to pay their bills even on an installment basis

He said this in a discussion with the Power and Energy Ministry officials at the Ministry yesterday.   
“The consumers in areas where  police curfew has been imposed are unable to receive their monthly electricity bills. Certain people are unable to pay their bills even though they have received them. He mentioned, that some of persons had paid their bills using the online system”. 
He said it is unfortunate that every consumer who received the bills had no online facility to pay their bills   
During the discussion the Minister requested the consumers who live in curfew relaxed areas to pay their bills even on an installment basis.   

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is continuing their services with a great effort and incurring a huge loss to the Board. Therefore, the Minister requested  consumes to consider payment of their bill  as it is a requirement to continue  the service.   

However, the CEB said the use of indoor electricity had increased as families are unable  to go to their  workplaces and have to spend longperiods at home. 

 
The number of electricity units in a domestic usage in this month has increased  compared with the previous month electricity usage, the CEB said.