To overcome crisis, electricity bill should be increased: CEB chairman

7 December 2022 06:09 pm - 34 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is submerged in a huge financial crisis, and an increase in electricity consumption charges must be done to cover the cost of the board, CEB Chairman Nalinda Ilangakoon said.

He said this situation has arisen due to the fact that the CEB has provided a unit of electricity at a lower rate and has not systematically increased the electricity tariffs since 2013 parallel to the increase in costs.

He also mentioned that the Power and Energy Minister has given instructions to reduce the other expenses of the board.

Since the government has decided to provide 24-hour electricity supply from next year on, it is not possible to supply power continually without increasing tariffs. He said that increasing the electricity tariffs should be implemented jointly by the Public Utilities Commission and the Power and Energy Ministry.

The chairman also mentioned that the coal required for the power generation has been ordered as scheduled and that there is no serious issues with the supply of coal. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

Pic by Waruna Wanniarachchi

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Comments - 34

D V K THARAKA Wednesday, 07 December 2022 06:21 PM

Why not consider energy sources such as solar panels instead acting like a country without sunlight. Hope those energy sources are cheaper.

Tube light Wednesday, 07 December 2022 06:24 PM

Get all persons

janp Wednesday, 07 December 2022 06:40 PM

ELECTRICITY BOARD FULL OF CORRUPION HOW MUCH STAFF HOW MUCH EXPENDITURES, HOW MUCH OUT COME, HOW MUCH FACILITIES GIVEN , MISAPPROPRIATION,MISUSE,MUST THROUGHLY INVESTIGATED, BRING CULPRITS INTO LAW ASAP WHILE SRILANKANS GOING HARDSHIPS DUE TO RAJAPAKSHAS FAMILIES ECONOMIC CRIMES MUST ACCOUNTABLE

Basil Wednesday, 07 December 2022 06:45 PM

Just like the Government raising the taxes to meet the financial crises in the country, the CEB Chairman wants to raise the electricity tariffs to meet the losses of the Electricity Board. It is as simple as that , for whatever the reasons for the crisis just make the citizens pay.

Silva Wednesday, 07 December 2022 06:52 PM

Please let me restructure CEB. Termination of all political appointees. Reduce staff by 50%. All management salaries to be reduced to Rs 100000 No self service for politicians and all have to pay their bills, otherwise red notice

ravin Wednesday, 07 December 2022 06:55 PM

In according to news in public domain close upon to 100 politically connected have defaulted CEB millions and millions of rupees. Any person who have a basic knowledge of accounting know it will adding up to cost of supply, of which cross border consumers have to bear the cost . Treat all those politic asses the way other law abiding citizens are treated and recover what they owed. WE all are sure at the end, no necessity to raise tariffs for considerable period of time.

Farook Wednesday, 07 December 2022 07:06 PM

To begin with out your house in order. We cannot blindly pay for political appointees, corruption mismanagement and whatever excesses committed by the Board and the government past and present. For a inept and and a band if clowns don't expect the general public to suffer. This message goes out to all public service and servants. Get you act together and be patriotic.

CEB a JOKE Wednesday, 07 December 2022 07:18 PM

Fire All the unnecessary staff Problem Solved.. to fix a lamp post they dispatch 4 teams, each team has about 10 members.. only 1 or 2 works.. such a loss.

joshua Wednesday, 07 December 2022 08:21 PM

this time around people will resist the actions of corrupt and inefficient CEB morons

Jef Wednesday, 07 December 2022 08:58 PM

Not only CEB majority of government departments sectors run at a loss ...surely the heads and officials no the real losses are due to no proper system to monitor accountability responsibility abuse theft manipulate etc....will always run at a loss no matter what you do with sri lankans privertise the lot then you will see profitability over night most of privet sectors don't take lairbilties

maha Wednesday, 07 December 2022 09:04 PM

first control corruptions in CEB, then automatically will make profit

Sam Wednesday, 07 December 2022 09:11 PM

Get all parliamentarians to settle the billions if pending arrears. Do you know that CEB and other government quarters waste electricity for example. In Digana, I personally observed them leaving for work without switching off any bulb or a fan in their room.

Kumar Wednesday, 07 December 2022 09:59 PM

How about reducing staffing levels. Collect all the dues from all the politician and other top people as well.

Mouth piece of Union Wednesday, 07 December 2022 10:30 PM

Why don't you start reform with the Board? You all are over paid, and the PAYE tax is also paid the CEB. Check the total manpower, and cut down the surplus hands, who hide behind MPs or political scums. Call the Internal Audit, give them a free hand to prepare their report. Give them protection as they may become the target. Implement their findings. You can tell the Minister to go fly a kite instead functioning as the mouthpiece of unions.

GHT Wednesday, 07 December 2022 10:40 PM

Ok, you may cut the power for 10 hours from January, but do not increase the tariff. Stop dancing to the tune of the IMF, a PUPPET of the US.

Buddhist Thursday, 08 December 2022 12:10 AM

Kanchana and Electricity Dept must first show how and how much costs they have cut before raising price. All we have seen to date is losses incurred due to unsavoury tender procedures followed by the govt.

L Jaya Thursday, 08 December 2022 04:40 AM

Chairman is not an Engineer as such has limited understanding, what he echoed has no different to Ministers's comments in the parliament. According to PUCSL there is no need to raise the traffic. Both these groups should be summoned by COPE and discuss the truth before Minister and Chairman threatening future power cuts in the absence of increase in traffics

Tissa Fernando Thursday, 08 December 2022 05:51 AM

Here are my suggestions: 50% of the CEB middle management staff should be fired. Those who oppose solar should be fired too. Regular comprehensive audits should be carried out and audit recommendations should be implemented. All transaction with private thermal power stations should be investigated for possible malpractices. This way you can reduce CEB expenses by half. Then the cost if electricity will be low.

janp Thursday, 08 December 2022 06:12 AM

TO OVER COME ECONOMIC CRIMES CRISIS CUT DOWN HUGE STAFF, HUGE FACILITIES, MISAPPROPRIATION OF HUGE FUNDS, CORRUPION, MISUSES, INCREASE PERFORMANCES, INCRESE OUT COME SACK OLD AGED NON ESSENTIAL BUREAU CRATS ,GO FOR MASSIVE SOLAR POWER PROJECTS IMMEDIATELY

Abd Thursday, 08 December 2022 06:25 AM

Before put the pressure on public, announce names of people who are suppose to pay heavy bills and collect them all,it’s unfair continue to hurt general public

Sambo Thursday, 08 December 2022 07:08 AM

First put your house to right by stooping corruption, over staff and then see if it's still necessary to increase the price.

VJ Thursday, 08 December 2022 07:33 AM

Over staffed CEB must look inwards to cut waste and expenditure. Breaking the CEB to several manageable components and privatizing some of them should be considered immediately. Reduce or remove taxes on solar equipment to make it affordable for ordinary people to shift to solar power.

Rishan Thursday, 08 December 2022 08:25 AM

If the production cost is Rs56 per unit, then that should be charged from all electricity users. CEB charged Rs16/Unit from users below 90 and Rs 75/Unit from users above 180. Why should high users need to take the burden if the treasury cannot fund the CEB to provide low users concession? Also have to have a long-term plan to increase the Grid capacity. Just check how many watts added to grid by looking at the sales of electrical equipment's by Singer/Softlogic and Abans. I believe every year you have to add at least 300-400MW new generation to grid. Else you have to buy thermal energy at a higher price during draught season. Also think about giving concessions to install solar solution to high users. At the moment 3KW solar cost over 1m.

sunil Thursday, 08 December 2022 09:09 AM

if you have a backbone first collect the bill arrears from the politicians

ajith Thursday, 08 December 2022 09:10 AM

reduce the unnecessary staff, you will not need to increase the tariff

goyal Thursday, 08 December 2022 09:10 AM

IF CEB is running in a loss, why are trying to build a new Head Office at Dabre Mawatha

rbh Thursday, 08 December 2022 09:16 AM

To overcome crisis, get the stolen money from th default agreements why you covering them and grabbing from public Prioritizing Fraud Prevention suppressed from authorities for the own benefit

M.M M. RIZLEY retired AFM CEB Thursday, 08 December 2022 09:26 AM

True tariff has not been revised for long period since 2013 , but treasury funded meanwhile . Can you expect a large revision to be made in a short period?. Suggest a plan to revise to overcome losses over period of 3-4 years, meanwhile restructuring of the board especially cash flow management

Jude Thursday, 08 December 2022 09:32 AM

We don't need the Chairman suggesting to increase electricity bills, the bunch of accountants working at CEB knows how to increase the revenue!!

Concerend Citizen Thursday, 08 December 2022 09:40 AM

Cut down on current staff cadre and everything else would fall in place. Hence there is no requirement to increase the tariff. Don't burden the citizenry any more... everyone is going through hell at the moment...

Neil Thursday, 08 December 2022 10:02 AM

Please provide a detailed breakdown of the cost of production of each kwh unit for each power plant and the distribution cost. People have a right to know why the unit cost is high.

Man Thursday, 08 December 2022 10:53 AM

Allow power cuts as the CEB and minister wish. But, no price increase as power cuts are more economical for poor masses without any square meal. That idiot thinks that all the fuel required can be imported with Rupees after the price increase. What a minister.

Seqi Thursday, 08 December 2022 10:56 AM

Do it. We'll adapt.

Lankanatha Palanhetti Thursday, 08 December 2022 12:06 PM

How about your salary and allowances? Minister also must be paid a BIG BONUS!!

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To overcome crisis, electricity bill should be increased: CEB chairman

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