LECO carries on regardless

by Ananda KANNANGARA

There have been a howl of protests against Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) which blatantly continues to demand Rs. 800 for late payment invoices from ratepayers in violation of a directive to LECO by Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne against levying such a charge without issuing the final 48-hour 'Red Bill' notice. In the wake of this continuing high-handed act by LECO, the Sunday Observer sought the views of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) yesterday which reassured that no electricity subscriber shall be called upon to pay the Rs. 800 late payment charge unless the subscriber is served with the 48 hours disconnection notice by Lanka Electricity Company.

According to Section 49 (1) of the Electricity Act the relevant Rs.800 late payment charge could be imposed on subscribers only if they fail to make payments even after receiving the warning notices.

A leading karate instructor of Panadura, Gamini Rupasinghe said that the late payment charge of Rs. 800 was mentioned in his electricity bill even without him being served a warning letter by LECO.

When contacted PUC, Chairman Jayatissa de Costa said that the procedure carried out by LECO was wrong as it was clearly given under Section 49 (1) of the Electricity Act.

He therefore directed any subscriber to make written complaints with the relevant documents to the PUC Headquarters at the sixth floor, BOC Merchant Tower, St.Michael's Road, Colombo 3 for further action.

"We are legally bound to investigate such complaints and to help subscribers," he said.