CEB insists no bill increase for households

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) yesterday insisted that electricity charges for households using less than 120 units a month would remain unchanged and initiated a hotline for complaints.   

 Releasing a statement the CEB clarified that the final decision regarding the consumer tariff system which is operational in Sri Lanka is not decided by the CEB which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Power and Energy; but by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka which is affiliated to the Financial and Planning Board.  

The CEB is bound to follow the tariff scheme imposed by this commission, and has structured its charges for 2011 in keeping with the commission’s guidelines.

In the latter part of 2010 the Public Utilities Commission drafted a proposal in respect of the 2011 electricity consumer charges presented it to the president. According to this proposal domestic electricity consumers whose consumption is less than 90 units will not see an increase in their bills, while those who consume over 90 units will see an 8% increase in their bills.

In an attempt to evaluate the proposal presented to the president a consumer workshop was held on the instructions of the president with the participation of consumer representatives, businessmen, CEB officials and the Public Utilities Commission.

Following this workshop, the President, the Minister of Power and Energy, and officials of the Finance Ministry drafted the Government proposals and it was presented to Parliament by the President at the last budget. According to this proposal the electricity tariff of consumers of over 90 units of electricity will not be charged higher rates. Instead the 90 units limit has been raised to 120 units. Further all religious institutions were also granted a 25% rebate on their electricity bills.

Accordingly, from the beginning of this year, based on the proposals brought forward by the Public Utilities Commission, those who consumed less than 120 units of electricity per month were not subject to an increase in their electricity bills.  Although in 2010 an additional 30% levy was imposed on all electricity consumers of over 90 units per month as fuel charges, according to the proposals of the PUCSL that 30% fuel surcharge was imposed only in respect of those who consumed less than 120 units per month.

The CEB statement states that it would like to emphasise that in comparison to 2010, electricity consumers of less than 120 units of electricity per month have not had their charges increased in 2011 and that electricity consumers having any issues pertaining to their electricity bills could contact the Public Utilities Commission on telephone No. 011 2392607 for assistance.