Rs.800 'Late payment charge' in contravention of Electricity Act

Rate payers are being unfairly billed Rs. 800 as `late payment charges' by Lanka Electricity Company without serving 48 hours notice of disconnection as stipulated by Section 49 (1) of the Electricity Act, for not settling electricity bills within a stipulated period.

This has come to light following a rate payer Gamini Rupasinghe from Walana, Panadura challenging a notice by the Lanka Electricity Company directing him to pay Rs. 800 as late payment charges for not settling an electricity bill within a stipulated time.

Rupasinghe has cited section 49 (1) of the Electricity Act whereby it only contemplates notice of disconnection only after the customer neglects to pay.

He has further pointed out that according to Section 49 (1) of the Electricity Act that if by the date mentioned by the coy payment is not made then the coy must give 48 hours notice of disconnection after which only disconnection could take place.

Also that if steps are in fact taken to disconnect such a charge of having taken such a step could be charged and not otherwise. That the coy is collecting the late payment fee as a matter of course as soon as the specified date has passed which is against the Electricity Act.

Section 49 (1) of the Electricity Act states as follows: "49 (1). In any case where a person neglects to pay any charge for energy or any other sum due from him to a licensee in respect of the supply of energy to him, the licensee may, after giving such person not less than 48 hours notice in writing, cut off the supply and for that purpose cut or disconnect any electricity line or other works, being the property of the licensee, through which energy maybe supplied, and may discontinue the supply until such charge or sum, together with the amount of any expenses which have been incurred by him in cutting off the supply or may be incurred in reconnecting the line or other works, is paid.