PUCSL to introduce new guidelines on electricity, petroleum, water

Wednesday, 29 March 2017 01:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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From left: Lanka Electricity Company General Manager H.N. Gunasekara, Ceylon Electricity Board Additional General Manager Distribution Division 1 Eng. Chulani Perera, National Water Supply and Drainage Board Additional General Manager Corporate Service W.B.G. Fernando, PUCSL Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Managing Director Nadun Fernando and National Movement of Consumer Rights Protection Ranjith Vithanage

By Charumini de Silva

The country’s energy regulator, the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL), is to introduce 11 new guidelines for the electricity sector with plans for extending the same to petroleum and water sectors in a bid to ensure right quality and price is delivered to users.

“In 2017, we expect to come out with 11 further guidelines on consumer rights in the electricity sector. In addition, PUCL is in discussion with the Petroleum Resources Development Ministry and the City Planning and Water Supply Ministry to come out with consumer rights and obligations statements for petroleum and water sectors as well,” PUCSL Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe said, addressing the Consumer Rights Forum 2017 held yesterday in Colombo.

Held for the second time, the forum reflected on thought leadership in driving Sri Lanka’s three essential services – electricity, petroleum and water – in a strategic direction which would benefit the consumer and economy.

Noting that certain guidelines had been set out in the electricity sector since 2015, he said the 11 new guidelines would be focused on the areas of planned and unplanned power outages, name changing of an electricity account, billing, acquisition of way leave, entering into premises, meter tampering and so on.

He highlighted that it was challenging for the utilities regulators to strategise on how they should develop the service quality in a responsible manner and deliver value that would be sustainable in the long term.

Kumarasinghe pointed out that it was vital to have consumer rights protected at all times, as it often reflected on the development of an economy as well.

“We felt that conceptualising consumer rights and obligations is very timely for Sri Lanka, at a time when the country is experiencing an improved economic state,” he noted.

He believes that the forum would create a platform to focus on collaborations in setting up new partnerships that will bring together all the utilities from all arenas to create new frameworks that would support the development of the country. The forum also included a panel discussion featuring eminent experts including Lanka Electricity Company Ltd. General Manager H.N. Gunasekara, Ceylon Electricity Board Additional General Manager – Distribution Division 01 Eng. Chulani Perera, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Managing Director Nadun Fernando, National Water Supply and Drainage Board Additional General Manager – Corporate Service W.B.G. Fernando and National Movement of Consumer Rights Protection Ranjith Vithanage.

The panel of experts shared insights on the vision for the industry from a consumer perspective and how it could be further developed in a sustainable manner.