• Move comes just after days PUCSL affirmed no power cuts till April
• Regulator uncertain if load shedding will be a daily exercise
• PUCSL Chief Janaka Ratnayake justifies earlier decision was based on assumption
• Says 400 MW generators are out of order with no oil

Electricity regulator, Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) yesterday approved a one hour and 45 minutes power cut requested by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), adding it was uncertain if it will be a daily affair going forward.

The decision was taken as the CEB has run out of oil for power generators and to save the reservoir water for agriculture purposes. “We do not have enough oil to run our generators and as a result, around 400 MW generators are out of order. Given the current situation we have no choice, but to implement load shedding,” PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake told journalists yesterday.

Accordingly, power was disrupted in one-hour blocks from 2.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. and in 45-minute blocks from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. in four different areas. Earlier this week, the PUCSL said there will be no power cuts till April.

Explaining the reason for the change in decision, Ratnayake said the previous decision was made on two key assumptions. “One assumption was that the CEB will be in possession of sufficient oil stocks to generate power and the other was that the power plants will operate without any breakdowns,” he added.

He said there is a requirement to reduce hydropower generation, which is at 10 GWh a day to 7.5 GWh. 

It was pointed out that the amount of hydroelectricity added to the national grid has now dropped to 25%, as the capacity of reservoirs associated with hydropower plants has fallen to 47%. 

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