Electricity Act to be amended ensuring 100 per cent government stake in transmission, distribution

23 December 2024 09:22 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 10 Bookmark

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The Energy Ministry will continue with the electricity sector reforms process and necessary restructuring and unbundling of electricity generation, transmission and distribution functions, and the newly established Power Sector Reforms Secretariat (PSRS) is heading to complete the transfer plan and unbundling by June 2025 following the proposed amendment to the Electricity Act, an official said.

Following the appointment of Pubudu Niroshan Hedigallage who is an engineer as the Director General of PSRS, three other members- Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake, Kosala Kamburadeniya (Engineer) and Dr. Indra Mahakalanda- have been appointed to the PSRS.

Hedigallage was a member of the NPP Energy Committee. He led its energy forum in August, presenting the Energy Policy Framework 2024. Prof. Samaranayake is the recently appointed Dean of Faculty of Engineering of the University of Peradeniya. Eng. Kamburadeniya is the President-Elect of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) for 2024-25. All three were representing the IESL-appointed Power Sector Reforms Committee during 2022-24. Dr. Mahakalanda is a senior lecturer in the Department of Decision Science at the University of Moratuwa.

“It is a widely discussed matter in political campaign that NPP will amend the current Electricity Act enabling a people-centric energy transition as per the mandate received twice from the people of Sri Lanka in nearby two major elections. The proposed amendment will ensure a 100 per cent government stake in transmission and distribution sectors while introducing an Independent System Operator (ISO). All existing CEB power plants will be kept under government without any privatisation while enabling private investments for future electricity generation options. Unbundling will first move to a strong single buyer market with the ISO while the wholesale market and retail market are also on the cards within a strategic timeline according to the gaining maturity of the electricity generation and power grid.

The electricity sector will be transformed into a consumer-centric and democratic system by empowering consumers to become educated and active participants as prosumers while establishing a transparent and competitive window for public-private developers to invest in energy projects,” Hedigallage said.

Comments - 10

james Monday, 23 December 2024 10:00 PM

What's the point if NPP is going to hook the cable to India

25 12

Dilakshan Seneviratne Tuesday, 24 December 2024 12:11 PM

Tha cable connection to India, is to trade (buy and sell) electricity with BIMSTEK countries. This is very expensive and a long way off IMO. Restructuring the CEB is quite independent of this and aimed at reducing electricity prices by increasing efficiencies.

0 1

Dr. Dee Monday, 23 December 2024 10:06 PM

Now ‘that’ will be a big problem! My area was doing pretty well ! If this happens? Let’s just hope!

14 3

Concerned Citizen Monday, 23 December 2024 10:41 PM

Very scientific way of looking at the problem. Kudos to the government for appointing professionals to look at a strong long term strategy that’s best for the country and not for any individuals.

1 5

L Jaya Tuesday, 24 December 2024 01:33 AM

Good for trade unions afflicted to JVP.

4 4

Citizen S Tuesday, 24 December 2024 02:48 AM

You are missing the big one, power plants and production

2 2

Bandara Gamaga Tuesday, 24 December 2024 02:50 AM

Really, which private investor wants to invest in SL power sector? its inefficient and corrupt

3 3

Sokrates Tuesday, 24 December 2024 08:09 AM

It would also be time to replace the electric meters with smart meters. These automatically transmit the values to a CEB database, which automatically generates the bills. If the bill is not paid, the electricity supply is automatically cut off. Meter readers would no longer be needed, CEB employees would no longer have to switch the power supply off and on on site and employees in the billing department would no longer be needed. The costs for such a digital conversion would be quickly amortised, as 70% of the staff could be freed up. Preferably those who got a job there through political influence.

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Dilakshan Seneviratne Tuesday, 24 December 2024 11:54 AM

Hedigallage is a bright spark in the NPP, he is smart and articulate. The proposed model is very good with an independent system operator. A very strong economic regulator is required, which does not need engineers but people with a different skill set. A strong safety regulator is also required which can be driven by engineers. This model is expected to have competition on the Power Generation side, with privately owned generators. This is where FDI attraction is possible with a grid connection via India to BIMSTEK countries.

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Dilakshan Seneviratne Tuesday, 24 December 2024 12:20 PM

The Energy Minister and Secretary are both very silent which is not good. They must be talking to the people, as electricity prices affect both households and small and big Businesses. The unbundled new entities need competent managers to run those businesses. If the same old people who have been associated with the same old CEB are put in charge, it’s going to be the same old story. The Minister must be looking for performance driven experienced executives from the private sector or BIMSTEk countries to run these businesses.

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