Ex-PUCSL Chief accuses Govt. of misleading public with impending tariff reduction claim

• Claims a tariff reduction is only possible in consideration of supply, demand and cost estimations 
• Says revenue generated by CEB in 2023 should be directed towards electricity consumers
• Calls for experts to be appointed to PUCSL and for mistakes made by agency last year to be rectified 

Former PUCSL Chairperson Janaka Ratnayake

Former Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Chairperson and Presidential hopeful Janaka Ratnayake emphasised that the revenue generated by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) last year should be directed towards the country’s consumers. “In the final quarter of 2023, the CEB recorded a profit exceeding Rs. 50 billion, achieved by unfairly imposing additional burdens on electricity consumers and unlawfully raising electricity tariffs in contravention to Article 30 of the Electricity Act,” he said in a press release. 

He said therefore the CEB must take immediate steps to distribute the profit among the country’s consumers. 

Commenting on the Government’s promise to reduce tariffs by 50% in the coming days, Ratnayake said the statement is misleading as tariffs can only be determined according to supply, demand and cost estimations. 

“The Act notes that only the fair costs of the CEB for power generation should be recovered from the consumers. Accordingly, the PUCSL must rectify the wrong committed by the agency in the last year. As the first step the undue profits of the CEB must be directed to the consumers.” he said. 

Ratnayake suggested that the next step should involve a review of tariff revisions, and he emphasised the importance of appointing experts to the PUCSL. 

“Sri Lanka Electricity Act and the PUCSL Act are two strong legislations relating to consumer rights and independence. The new act has not been drafted by experts in the field. The PUCSL Act has 27 provisions to protect the consumer. But the new act has removed all of it and is allowing for the consumer to be taken advantage of,” he noted. 

He claimed the Minister of Power and Energy would have sweeping powers over all agencies relating to power generation and hand over power generation permits to private companies. He mentioned that although the Minister has committed to revising the bill and presenting it to parliament, he is incapable of doing so and should instead submit it to the Cabinet first. He attributed the delay to the drafters of the law, citing their lack of knowledge on the subject.