7 February 2020 09:40 am
Electricity sector regulator Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has fired a second letter to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) asking the state-run utility to submit a report on load-shedding that had taken place on February 3.
“As per the Power System Report for February 2020 submitted by the Transmission Licensee to the Commission, it is evident that load shedding had taken place from 10.45 hrs to 17.02 hrs on February 3, 2020 in many parts of the island.
PUCSL pointed out that as per the bulk supply licence issued to the CEB, prior approval should be obtained from the Commission for every scheduled interruption of electricity supply other than the interruptions necessary due to maintenance.
PUCSL in a letter dated February 3, 2020 requested a report from the CEB on the power outages without prior notice to the public and without obtaining prior Commission approval.
In the second letter dated February 6, 2020, PUCSL said unapproved load shedding amounts to an offence under the provision of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No.20 of 2009 (as amended).
Sri Lanka’s electricity supply is currently in a crisis amid increasing demand against a stagnant supply.
Sri Lanka hasn’t commissioned a single power plant in the last four years. Lower rainfall is also affecting the hydro power generation.