Govt grants massive relief for 2.7 m consumers

New tariff to help those using under 90 units

By Ananda Kannangara

[email protected]

Around 2.7 million electricity consumers islandwide whose monthly consumption is less than 90 units will be granted a massive relief by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The new electricity tariff increase report, which was prepared by a special CEB panel after consultation with several public organisations will be handed over to Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne on March 15.

The report will be then submitted to the Cabinet and also brought to the attention of President Rajapaksa who had earlier directed the CEB officials to make a fair tariff increase without putting much burden on consumers.

Minister Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer that the CEB has not decided on the date of increase of the new tariff, but said that it will come into operation shortly.

Asked whether there will be a sharp increase for those who consume more than 90 units, the Minister said that only a fair increase will be made even for those who consume more than 90 units as the CEB is strictly adhering to the directive of President Rajapaksa. Meanwhile, Minister Seneviratne appealed to late night TV viewers to support the Government in its energy conservation program as CEB statistics have revealed that people consume more electricity at night due to late night TV programs.

Minister Seneviratne also focused attention on the wasteful usage of street lights by several local bodies including the Colombo Municipal Council and said that the CEB had decided to take stern action in this regard against area electrical engineers as well as other officials in Municipal Councils, Urban Councils, Pradeshiya Sabhas and Provincial Councils.

He said that the CEB has already instructed local bodies of the times to switch street lights on and off.