PUCSL slams CEB over power plant delays

• Issues a directive to CEB expressing “grave concerns” over postponement of plans to avoid 2018 power crisis
• Demands response by month-end

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday issued a directive expressing its grave concerns to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) over a delay in constructing power plants needed to avert a possible power crisis over the next two years.

The CEB is tasked with acting according to the approved Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP).

“The PUCSL approved the LCLTGEP on 15 September 2016 and it is the sole responsibility of the Transmission licensee to adhere to the approved LCLTGEP and take immediate steps to implement it, given the criticality of the power supply during 2017-2020,” the Commission said in its strongly worded reply on Friday.

The PUCSL approved the LCLTGEP to ensure future electricity demands are met and, thus, directed the transmission licensee to immediately construct and operate power plant(s) for the period of 2017 – 2020, as per the approved plan to avoid potential power issues during the period.

However, the latest communication from CEB to PUCSL shows that there is an enormous time gap with the implementation plan compared to the approved LCLTGEP.

Critical plants for the period of 2017-2020 have been delayed up to two years from the LCLTGEP which may ultimately result in not meeting the country’s timely required electricity demand and may give rise to issues in the continued supply of electricity throughout the country.

“Delay in implementation of the power plants from the approved LCLTGEP will result in failure to meet the electricity demand during 2017-2020 period,” the PUCSL said.

Accordingly, the PUCSL issued a directive to Transmission and Bulk Supply Licensee No. EL/T/09-002 (CEB) to submit the requested information on or before 29 November 2016. The information requested is listed below.

I. Provide reasons for the deviation from the approved LCLTGEP for each and every power plant

II. Provide a report on the impact of the power situation during 2017-2020 due to deviating from the approved LCLTGEP

III. Provide solutions/proposals in meeting the electricity demand, in the event there is an impact on continued power supply due to the deviation from the approved LCLTGEP, during the 2017-2020 period.

IV. Provide evidence to the Commission that the Transmission Licensee is not likely to contravene section 24 of Sri Lanka Electricity Act. No 20 of 2009(as amended) and Condition 30 of Electricity Transmission and Bulk Supply Licence N. EL/T/09-002