10-hour power cut today

CEB proposed a 12-hour power cut but PUCSL obtained 2,000 MT diesel to run generators 

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved the request made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to have rotational power cuts for ten hours today.

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said the CEB proposed a 12-hour power cut for today, but the PUCSL had managed to get 2,000 metric tons of diesel to run generators to reduce the requested power cuts. 

However, the approval for today’s power shedding was granted due to the unavailability of fuel for 750MW of thermal capacity.

Accordingly, power shedding will be imposed in areas A, B, C, D, E and F for ten hours from 2.00 pm to 12.00 midnight. Six hours from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm for the areas G, H, I, J, K and l.

The areas categorised under P, Q, R, and S areas will have a ten-hour power outage from 2.00 pm to 12.00 am and the TUVW areas will have a six-hour outage from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm and a four-hour outage from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

Meanwhile, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm another ten-hour power outage will be implemented in the areas of M, N, O, X, Y, and Z.

“It is very unfortunate to say that this man-made issue has gone beyond everybody’s control and, therefore, we have to face the consequences.”
 According to the chairman, the unavoidable and lengthy power outages will have an impact on people’s lives as well as the entire business cycle.

The PUCSL regrets the inconvenience caused to electricity consumers due to prevailing power cuts.

• CEB proposed a 12-hour power cut for today, but the PUCSL had managed to get 2,000 metric tons of diesel to run generators to reduce the requested power cuts