PUCSL to hike electricity tariffs following govt.’s policy guidelines

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) will take a decision to increase electricity tariffs as soon as the government grants policy guidelines, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said yesterday.

He said there would be no increase in electricity tariffs tonight, as previously reported.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had generated Rs.276 billion revenue in March this year and its expenditure for the month was Rs.505 billion. 

“There is a difference of Rs.230 billion between the revenue and expenditure. When considering the expenditure on coal and diesel, another Rs. 200 billion should be added. There is a difference of Rs.450 billion between the earnings and expenditure of the CEB. Therefore, the CEB is trying to recover the extra expenditure while proposing to increase the electricity tariffs,” he said.

The PUCSL said it has already informed the government about the above situation. 

“If the government is considering providing relief that should be clearly informed. The amount of relief that the government wishes to grant, as well as which sector should receive it, should be specified,” Ratnayake stressed.