MP Shanakiyan shines a light on electricity tariff hike

To check this claim, FactCheck.lk consulted documentation published by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), including correspondence between the Ceylon electricity Board (CEB) and the PUCSL. 

In his statement, the MP claims that “the PUCSL” recommended that the cost of a unit in the lowest band of tariffs be increased from Rs. 8 to Rs. 10, but instead of that, the price has increased to Rs. 30. “The PUCSL” in this case can refer to two possible groups (1) Expert staff and directorate of the PUCSL (2) PUCSL Commission Members. In the larger context of the statement, the MP refers to group 1 as the PUCSL.

Correspondence records show that on 5 January 2023, the CEB submitted a tariff structure proposal, which recommended increasing the cost of a unit in the lowest tariff band from LKR 8 to LKR 30. A PUCSL paper dated 13 February 2023, signed off by the directorate of the Tariff and Economic Affairs division of the PUCSL (group 1), rejected the CEB proposal and recommended instead to the PUCSL Commission (group 2) to increase the cost of a unit in the lowest tariff band from LKR 8 to LKR 10. 

However, there is controversy, that is being litigated, over whether the PUCSL Commission (group 2) had a valid meeting/decision to reject the PUCSL’s (group 1) recommendation and adopt the CEB’s recommendation instead.  Because the MP is correct in claiming that the CEB’s tariff increase is not in line with the increase recommended by the PUCSL (group 1), we classify his statement as TRUE.

*FactCheck.lk’s verdict is based on the most recent information that is publicly accessible. As with every fact check, if new information becomes available, FactCheck.lk will revisit the assessment.

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