New Bill on electricity will protect consumers

by Lalin Fernandopulle

The Sri Lanka Electricity Bill which will be presented in Parliament shortly will empower the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to regulate and monitor the performance and expose corruption and malpractices of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and all affiliated institutions, PUCSL, Director General Prof. Priyantha Wijetunga said.

He said political patronage and interference have been the main hurdle to the PUCSL to carry out its task. The CEB which comes under the Ministry of Power and Energy takes cover under various government big wigs for its immunity, the Director General said.

The CEB incurs a loss of Rs. 3 per unit of electricity and in meeting the country's requirement it incurs a massive loss. Inefficiency and malpractices in the Board will be minimised and made a more productive organisation, Prof. Wijetunga said.

The Director General said the Commission needs to be empowered to act as an independent and enforcing body with authority to take legal action against any institution violating regulations and acting contrary to the national interest.

The PUCSL was set up to regulate and monitor the performance of electricity, water and petroleum sectors. The commission does not have the legal backing to do so and acts in a general capacity to monitor the progress of institutions and entertain complaints from the public.

The Public Utilities Act of 2002 is generic in nature and enables the PUCSL to exercise authority across the board but not in a specific capacity to regulate and monitor sectors. Acts pertaining to various sectors are needed to regulate and monitor institutions and their performance.

He said though he is optimistic that the PUBSL will be given sufficient powers how independently and assertively it could exercise powers would be a matter that needs to be addressed.

Today there isn't an authoritative body where the welfare of consumers are taken care of. Our intention is make the PUCSL a place where consumers can rely for assistance, Prof. Wijetunga said.

Programs initiated to resolve the power crisis in the country, inject new thinking to improve customer care and urge power plant operators to expand the generating capacity and reduce the cost of power supply.

The Commission is working towards achieving the 15 percent increase in power generation through small renewable energy sources by 2010. At present around 2 percent of the energy in the country is generated through renewable energy sources.

With regard to a possible power crisis next year, he said the Government has called upon the plant operators to expand the generating capacity and work on power projects will be expedited.

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