Uninterrupted power supply at higher cost

16 February 2023 05:13 pm - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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After increasing the electricity tariff by 66%, the state banks gave their approval to get the essential loans and credit facilities to purchase the required fuel, furnace oil, coal, and naptha from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Addressing the media, he said that soon after the decision to increase the electricity tariff, the banks came to an agreement to grant loans and credit facilities.

Beginning this evening, banks will provide the necessary facilities for importing coal, naptha, and other types of fuel required for continual electricity generation. The proposed electricity tariff revision was intended solely to cover the cost of electricity generation, not to provide the CEB with a profit or additional income.

The full result of this tariff revision will come into effect at the end of March or the beginning of April. The cabinet's approval in this regard was granted to receive a cost-reflective tariff.

Accordingly, the Ceylon Electricity Board's (CEB) General Manager Rohan Seneviratne said after increasing the electricity tariff by 66%, consumption from 0 to 60 kWh will be charged at 251%.

He said the fixed fee charged from 0 to 30 units will be Rs. 400, from 31 to 60 units, this charge will be Rs. 550; and from 61 to 90 units, the fixed charge will increase to Rs. 650.

The fixed charges for units 91 to 120 and 121 to 181 will go up to Rs 1,500, while the fixed charge for above 180 units will be Rs. 2,000 as per the new amendment.

Further, Minister Wijesekera stated that he is expected to provide relief to low-income people who use less electricity in the future, as per the president's instructions.

They also said that they are working to provide solar panels for religious and government educational institutions. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 19

Sobers Thursday, 16 February 2023 05:33 PM

We would have been better under the British rule.

Patriots Thursday, 16 February 2023 06:16 PM

Uninterrupted supply, this is for two months only until people settle down. Then they will cut it again

DOT Thursday, 16 February 2023 06:20 PM

We have to face the reality .

Janaki Thursday, 16 February 2023 06:32 PM

Have the Banks also approved "Pagaas"

sam Thursday, 16 February 2023 08:40 PM

Who is fooling whom?

Sanjeewa A Thursday, 16 February 2023 08:49 PM

This is until one good day, you come back to tell us CEB is running at loss and we need to hike the tariff. How this can be resolved forever when you still have the root cause unaddressed?

Solar panel businessman killed new power plants the cause Thursday, 16 February 2023 10:27 PM

Root cause is already well known. The green energy maniacs who own solar panels blocked new 24 hour power cable stations like new coal and gas, so CEB forced to buy fro them. Until either we join Indian grid to get power from there, or build 1000MW of new coal and gas power we expect for for lower tariffs. Night time, cloud cover and bad weather, like even drought, only coal and gas power is viable 365 days, 24 hours a day.

IMF pressure is the root Thursday, 16 February 2023 10:39 PM

IMF is forcing Pakistan to increase electricity tariffs. The full IMF agreement was made public there. It stands to reason it is the IMF which is forcing hand of government to put up tariffs here too.

Karalasingam Sivalingam Thursday, 16 February 2023 09:07 PM

Can any one suggest how to reduce electricity tariff instead of protesting on streets.The industries will bounce back despite electricity costs increase. Robberies in darkness will be reduced. Traders making profits and increasing prices of consumables unreasonably. The poor with children and depends should have some relief.

Anne Thursday, 16 February 2023 10:11 PM

People should learn to pay for what they use. This country has gotten too used to freebies.

Consumer Thursday, 16 February 2023 10:12 PM

Although there won't be POWER CUTS, due to the high increase in Tariffs, the overall consumption in the country will find a drastic drop. This is because Consumers will be compelled to switch off Lights and other Electric Appliances even if they have to remain in the dark.

Glad to get 24 hours power, the new tariffs are fair Thursday, 16 February 2023 10:23 PM

I am happy to pay the new tariffs to have 24 hour power. People who do not want to pay should not use power any hours of the day, or rather just disconnect. Too many want subsidy people including religious groups is whom got our nation into its bankrupt situation.

Disappointed Sri Lankan Thursday, 16 February 2023 10:34 PM

I hope the 6.9 Million who voted are happy, just wondering is it the corrupts ministers or is it the people who voted them in are responsible for this destruction?

Lokka Thursday, 16 February 2023 10:35 PM

As the CEB operates with the income generated from the electricity consumers money, the consumers have a right to know how the money is spent by the Electricity Board. In this regard: 1. The Board should publish income and expenditure reports for public view. 2. Excess staff should be removed immediately. 3. The concerned minister should be barred from recruiting workers outside the approved cadre, with provision for legal age to be taken against him. 4. Engineers salaries should be reduced to be on par with other sectors. Presently the Electricity Board workforce is three times more than the required number. This was a result of the minister's giving jobs to his henchmen in the chit system. This should stop immediately.

Don Friday, 17 February 2023 03:42 AM

CEB staff are doing a harakiri, but I don’t know it is a honorable suicide or not. Government is planning to sell CEB power generation arm. To do that it must be converted into profit making arm first. This is the plan. After that private owners can keep rates at this level without getting any blame and make huge profits by lowering the overheads through efficiencies. Then the rest of CEB will be gradually shrinked by stopping the recruitment and making others to leave by axing allowances. They can do strikes but it would not affect the power supply. So they will fail. These engineers are so stupid. Your honeymoon is over. Goodbye. People will not have anyone to complain because it is a private company who provide the services.

Ben Friday, 17 February 2023 11:43 AM

This electricity prices are unacceptable and unbearable, where is secretary to SLPP, who once wanted to remove minister in charge for increasing prices then

VJ Friday, 17 February 2023 07:02 PM

I think they are planning to sell the CEB to the private sector.

Buddhist Friday, 17 February 2023 07:59 PM

What a joke, this guy is a JOKER! The minute the cost of electricity was raised the power cut vanished.. are they burning rupees in Noracholai and not Coal?

GHT Friday, 17 February 2023 11:15 PM

Administration of Sri Lanka has gone beyond control of itself and these are the effects of IMF, puppet of the United States, strict order.

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Uninterrupted power supply at higher cost

Comments - 19

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