Tue, 19 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Electricity charges to go up by 75% from tomorrow: PUCSL

9 August 2022 12:42 pm - 23     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today granted permission to increase the electricity tariff by 75 % from tomorrow, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake said.

Addressing the media he said, the category with consumption less than 30 units will be charged 25 % of the cost. They still get 75 % of subsidy. Consumers that come under the category of above 31 units and below 60 units are charged 40% of the total cost. They get a 60% of subsidy. Only 50% of the actual cost is charged from the category of units above 61 and below 90. A 50% of subsidy is also given to that category.

“75 % of the electricity consumers are still being subsidized even with the new tariff revision. Steps have also been taken to encourage electricity consumers to promote renewable electricity generation with the tariff revision decision. During the public consultation on the tariff revision, the users of solar systems pointed out that charging a monthly fee on their overall consumption is unfair,” the Chairman said.

With the increase in the cost of electricity generation, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had submitted two proposals to the PUCSL to increase the tariffs by 183% and 229%. However, both proposals were not approved. As per the provisions of the PUCSL Act, we have also sought public inputs before approving the tariffs.

The Commission decided to approve a fair electricity tariff, taking all these public and other stakeholder comments into consideration.

“During these 9 years, the prices of all goods and services have increased considerably. Especially the three types of fossil fuels imported for electricity generation have increased by more than 250%. But in the last 9 years, we managed to keep the electricity rates at a stable level.

“During the past nine years, the value of the dollar has increased by 190%. Therefore, the industries in the export sector will not be greatly affected by this electricity tariff revision,” Rathnayake said.

Instead of the 116% tariff increase proposed by the CEB for industries, hotels and general-purpose sectors with low electricity consumption will get an approved tariff increase of 39% for the public sector and a 75% for the industrial sector. Only 50% of the increase in the approved rates, especially for the tourism sector, will come into effect on August 2022, he said.

The remaining 50% tariff increase will come into effect after another three months as an incentive and relief, facilitating the tourism industry to recover. In addition, it has been decided to provide a 1.5% discount when electricity bills are paid in dollars as a relief to the tourism and export industries," Rathnayake added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Pix by Kithsiri de Mel


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 23

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Man Tuesday, 09 August 2022 01:02 PM

    To cover up the losses caused due to the power cuts and for maintaining facilities for the Engineers at the CEB without any shortcomings.

    Menon Tuesday, 09 August 2022 01:09 PM

    Excellent... Nice move by EB to save electricity, the people who cannot pay the bill will face disconnection and the nation saves energy. Good tactics.

    sam Tuesday, 09 August 2022 01:10 PM

    You should give a breakdown. Is the increase from the first unit or how?

    citizen Tuesday, 09 August 2022 01:13 PM

    Fuel price reduced by, Rs, 10, and Gas price reduced by Rs,248, and Electricity price goes up by 75% , Very nice,

    Sunil Tuesday, 09 August 2022 01:48 PM

    CEB charges includes ceb pension fund ETF EPF, is it fair why commission is not looking to all these before deciding the increase .

    Even God has let us down. Tuesday, 09 August 2022 01:57 PM

    People are starving due unaffordable current prices of essentials and loss of regular income. Within the last six months almost all the items and services have been increased and People are unable to meet their daily needs. At this hour a 75 % of tariff increase is going to increase our burden tremendously. Next shot will be water tariff.

    Mudalali Tuesday, 09 August 2022 02:41 PM

    More to come! Keep supporting RW and his boys kollas, everything will get better. The selfish Colombo elites will even sell their mother for money..

    ACL Tuesday, 09 August 2022 03:55 PM

    Ridiculous. They reduce gas by 246 Rs (fat lot one can do with that amount today) and the increase electricity by 75%. Who are people to survive with these types of increases. Increase in electricity will mean that everything goes up in price further. Today people cannot afford to eat anything. Rice, vegetables, fish, meats, everything is so costly. Fruits are costly. They plan to increase Water tariff too.

    Ian Bertus Tuesday, 09 August 2022 04:56 PM

    Great. This is long overdue. Let it bring more suffering to the people.

    Punchi Tuesday, 09 August 2022 05:25 PM

    We don’t need this whiteman creation electricity, which was introduced during the colonial era. we can use oil lamps and our houses can be illuminated by the divine presence of Buddha

    aston perera Tuesday, 09 August 2022 05:27 PM

    why this country is still not 90% using hydro power. its actually double the bill value. power cuts never decrease the bill value, ppl used the same or more, must be more.. because ppl started using electrical cookers. stupid uncle sam

    Dee Tuesday, 09 August 2022 07:08 PM

    Because the water resources depleted because people like you cut trees and build houses. Then buy all electrical equipment and increase consumption. Are you still living in the 1960's?

    Karalasingam Sivalingam Tuesday, 09 August 2022 07:24 PM

    Overstaff, political appointments after every election, lethargy are the main causes for losses in the electricity sector. People cannot bear further burdens. Consider privatisation of electricity sectors.

    Kumara Fanadeo Tuesday, 09 August 2022 08:02 PM

    Too long exporters got cheap electricity, and during power cuts for us, none for their businesses. Exporters must pay a lot more for Kilowatt than the general public. They're profits must also be taxed heftier to recoup the money the CEB loses providing to them.

    Adwani Tuesday, 09 August 2022 08:31 PM

    75% increase includes the cost of corruptions, cheating, bonus for CEB workers, stealing fuel, etc. Finally, all abled Sri Lankans will go to Gulf Countries to work and stay.

    Reader Tuesday, 09 August 2022 10:03 PM

    A painful decision, but the correct one. It would not have been so hard if the correct pricing was followed over the years. Cheap and popular politics got in the way, to the detriment of the country in the longer term. Unfortunately, the government cannot forever continue to supply services under cost, and subsidise it via taxes from other sources (or by borrowing or printing currency notes). By subsidising services we only cultivate wrong consumption behaviour.

    Prasath Tuesday, 09 August 2022 10:35 PM

    Corruption and inefficiency in CEB and all government departments is beyond redeemable. Only option to stop corruption, increase efficiency and bring in new tech is to privatise CEB and all government departments.

    Adam Speak Wednesday, 10 August 2022 03:03 AM

    Increase of electricity charges do not make any sense. Ministry of Energy, Power and the CEB Engineers have not provided any solutions for the past several decades. At a time when households use Rice Cookers and Stoves which are exorbitantly priced to meet the coocking needs. There is no justification to increase the electricity charges. Instead Power, Energy Ministry and CEB must make real contribution to the national grid and power generation, How pathetic and lethargic they are. Shame on you all. Sri Lanka has one of the highest electricity tariff in the world.

    Andy Dandy Wednesday, 10 August 2022 06:12 AM

    Southern California Edison increased their electricity rates by almost 100 percent. I am not surprised to hear that.

    Again the Common Man Wednesday, 10 August 2022 07:17 AM

    75% increase on Electricity charges are un-bearable, its too much. Please don't burden the public and reasonably increase.

    Hubert Congreve Wednesday, 10 August 2022 07:19 AM

    PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake, do you close the eyes and take your own decisions? Please for heaven sake, discuss the matter again with professionals and come in to a good conclusion.

    NIHAL DHARMATILEKE Wednesday, 10 August 2022 12:43 PM

    As net metering customer who adds many units to the nat.grid what is my reward ?I too Like few bucks in my wallet

    Jef Wednesday, 10 August 2022 04:15 PM

    This nonsense will never stops inflation gone trough the roof cost of living gone up by approx 300 to 500% the middle man and the poor have no chance of surviving It's bloody crazy you guys talking about bonuses where the poor the middle class have have no food to put on the table for kids


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H

Will the Mannar wind power project kill ecological treasures?

In February 2023, Adani Green Energy (Sri Lanka) Ltd was given provisional ap