Cabinet lights up electricity bill relief

• Power Ministry recommendations to be assessed by Finance Ministry to see if room for more assistance 

Cabinet yesterday green-lighted relief for the overcharged electricity bills consumers have received during the curfew months, but requested that recommendations from the Power Ministry be further studied by the Finance Ministry to provide more assistance.   

The report of the committee appointed by the Minister of Power and Energy to make recommendations on the relief to be provided to consumers for electricity bills for the period from March to May 2020 due to the COVID-19 epidemic situation was taken up for discussion at the Cabinet meeting. 

Cabinet lights...

The Finance, Economy, and Policy Development Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was requested to further study the recommendations of the committee with the Treasury officials, and submit proposals on possible relief to electricity consumers by the Power Ministry. 

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposals of the Minister given below:

If the value of each bill for the months of March, April, and May is greater than the value of the February bill, to charge an amount equal to the February bill for those 3 months, and grant a grace period of 2 months to settle the bill.

Regarding customers who have already paid their bills, taking steps to offset the overpayment from future bills, and to temporarily suspend the power supply disconnection despite lack of payments.