PUCSL to convene stakeholder consultation

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) is to convene a stakeholder consultation on the proposed revision of electricity tariffs.

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake said the electricity bill will not be increased as the recent fuel price, but will come into effect after five weeks.

He said the PUCSL is of the view that the tariff increase should not exceed 57% as a concession to the majority of household electricity consumers.

The PUCSL requests all parties, including the public, to submit their views and proposals regarding the tariff revision. Written comments can be submitted by email or fax until July 18, and details of the date and venue for the oral public consultation session will be announced in due course. The oral session will also be facilitated online, he said.

This increase will not be done according to any single person's choice but as per the accepted scientific methodology. No one can involve with this increase.

"The average monthly electricity bill for consumers below 30 units can be maintained at Rs. 227." The average monthly electricity bill for consumers with more than 30 units but less than 60 units can be maintained at Rs. 658. The PUCSL points out that although a 138% tariff increase has been proposed for the entire domestic sector, it should not exceed 67%. The CEB also proposed to increase electricity tariffs by 45% for general purpose consumers, 61% for industrial consumers, 43% for hotels, 43% for government agencies, and 189% for the places of worship," he said.

The PUCSL also requested CEB to accept the monthly electricity bills in dollars from the companies that earn their revenue in dollars. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)