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CEB asks consumers not to panic

17 September 2014 09:27 pm - 15     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) today appealed to its nearly five million consumers not to panic when they receive the monthly electricity bill this month based on the previous tariff despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s announcement of a 25% tariff reduction with immediate effect.

CEB Chairman W.B. Ganegala told Daily Mirror that the CEB, Treasury and the Public Utilities Commission are already in the process of working out the tariff structure under the new system and that it would take a few weeks for it to be completed and meter readers begin issuing the monthly electricity bill under the reduced tariff.

“We have to print the new tariff structure and give it to the meter readers to calculate the new tariffs. It will take a few more weeks and consumers must bear with us until then. If consumers had been overcharged this month, the excess amount will be deducted from next month’s bill based on the 25% reduction of the tariff which will be effective from Wednesday,” he said. “The CEB had earned a profit of Rs.22 billion last year after the repeated losses incurred in the past. The CEB now pays fuel bills on time to the CPC and very soon we will pass some relief to the consumer.”

Mr. Ganegala said 900 MWs – 50% of the daily power requirement --being generated by the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant (LCPP) at a unit cost of Rs.8.50 had made it possible to provide relief to the consumers.

He said it would have been more advantageous if there was enough rain to fill the reservoirs because the unit cost of hydro power generation was Rs.3.70 but the CEB had to pay Rs.35 to Rs.60 for a unit of thermal power generation bought from private power suppliers.

The CEB incurs huge losses by giving subsidies to nearly three million households or more than half of the total population which use less than 60 units a month. For instance, the CEB sells a unit of power at Rs.3.34 to consumers using less than 30 units a month while the average cost of power generation is Rs.22.94. Those using less than 60 units a month are charged Rs.6.89 for a unit. The CEB incurs a total loss of more than Rs.28 billion a year.

Mr. Ganegala said the CEB also incurs a loss of Rs.520 million a year by supplying electricity to places of religious worship. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

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  Comments - 15

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  • Cobra Thursday, 18 September 2014 01:31 AM

    Who is fooling whom then?

    Cobra Thursday, 18 September 2014 01:34 AM

    By the time CEB gets around to doing the needful the elections will be over and it will be time to revert back to the previous tariffs!!!

    Phantom Thursday, 18 September 2014 01:39 AM

    Don't panic? CEB, you've bled us for years and now when the bleeding is supposed to slow down you tell us hang on- you got to be kidding!!!

    Phantom Thursday, 18 September 2014 01:42 AM

    CEB: "Don't panic consumers, it's only an election gundu"!!!

    ANTON Thursday, 18 September 2014 01:57 AM

    IN WATTALA , WE ARE NOT IN A STATE OF PANIC ABOUT 25 % TARIFF REDUCTION, WE ARE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT FREQUENT 25 % REDUCTION OF POWER SUPPLY, ALWAYS POWER CUTS.

    de silva Thursday, 18 September 2014 01:57 AM

    We can wait and wait.This will go on till January 2015

    nimal Thursday, 18 September 2014 02:22 AM

    this is so unfair.. we the high consumers have to pay the bill of low consumers?... we are paying over 25/= a unit.

    everyone should be charged equal..

    mohamed Thursday, 18 September 2014 08:02 AM

    But in increment you can arrange in few hours . God permitted but messenger delay. via DM Android App

    mount Thursday, 18 September 2014 08:57 AM

    I am the king. I am minister. I am secretary. I am director and I am MR.

    Amila. G Thursday, 18 September 2014 03:55 AM

    Thank you Harin

    Dilan Thursday, 18 September 2014 09:45 AM

    50% increase after election via DM Android App

    Freebird Thursday, 18 September 2014 09:46 AM

    The reduction on the tarif only upto the elections are over. After that it wil be increased more than 25%. wait and see via DM Android App

    neluka Thursday, 18 September 2014 04:47 AM

    [quote name="Cobra"]By the time CEB gets around to doing the needful the elections will be over and it will be time to revert back to the previous tariffs!!![/quote]
    HAHA SO TRUE.

    HJSP Friday, 19 September 2014 12:00 AM

    Including Ja ela, Ekala also the same.

    Alex Friday, 19 September 2014 12:51 AM

    When tariffs are increased the new structure is worked out overnight and when there is a reduction the revision takes weeks to work out! What double standards by CEB ! Just an election gimmick. In fact the so-called losses are due to mismangement, wastage and overstaffing at CEB.


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