Cheaper CFLs for four million consumers

Four million electricity consumers will receive high quality Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) at reasonable rates from the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) before November this year.

The bulbs will be distributed in keeping with the National Energy Conservation Program (NECP) under the supervision of the Sustainable Energy Authority.

CFL bulbs will be distributed through the CEB area offices and the outlets which will be approved by the Sustainable Energy Authority.

“We have not yet decided whether the cost of these bulbs will be deducted in instalments from the monthly bills of consumers,”.

Asked whether the CEB is expected to offer one bulb free and additional bulbs at reasonable rates, Minister Seneviratne said that one bulb was offered free at one time to households in rural areas and also to low income families and the scheme was stopped after some time.

Outlining the Government’s Electricity Conservation program, the Minister said that steps have already been taken to ban the use of street lights in certain Local Government divisions which did not adhere to the CEB directive of switching off street lights after 6.00 a.m. daily.

Minister Seneviratne also said the Rs. 150 million which is currently incurred by the CEB to provide electricity to religious institutions countrywide with a 30 per cent special discount will not be curtailed under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, a leading electrical goods importer in Colombo said they would also reduce the prices of CFL bulbs in keeping with the CEB price structure. AK