CEB action unwarranted : PUCSL has not authorized power cuts

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ceylon Electricity Board implemented the scheduled power cuts today (March 25). According to the Public Utilities Commission, the regulatory body of the CEB, legal action will be taken against the move as it was implemented without permission. The Ceylon Electricity Board began to cut the power supply for 3 hours during the day and one hour at night as announced by the board. As per the schedule released by the CEB: Daytime brackets

• 8.30 am to 11.30 am.
• 11.30 to 2.30 p.m.
• 2.30 to 5.30 p.m.

Night-time brackets

• 6.30 pm to 7.30 p.m.
• 7.30 pm to 8.30 p.m.
• 8.30 to 9.30 p.m.

Action by PUCSL

According to the Public Utilities Commission Sri Lanka, the Ceylon Electricity Board has not been permitted to implement a scheduled power cut yet. The Commission says that permission must be obtained if the CEB is to implement scheduled power cuts. According to the Director of PUCSL Nalin Edrisinghe, the CEB has not sought permission from the PUCSL to implement power cuts and requested the consumers to inform the commission on power cuts they experienced until March 18, 2019. "The Commission hopes to file legal action against this move," he added.

"We warned of a power crisis"

Chairman of the CEB Engineers Union Saumya Kumarawadu says that warnings were given beforehand that there will be a power crisis by 2019-2020. "Tenders for the construction of a 320 MW power plant in Kerawalapitiya were opened in 2017, they have not even thought about constructing this power plant. The matter has been taken to court." According to Saumya, there is an annual increase in demand for power by 150 MW. Meaning a 500MW power plant must be constructed every 3 to 4 years. Saumya added: "This capacity cannot be generated even through the hydropower plants, wind power plants, and even the Norochcholai power plant." Meanwhile, the convenor of the CEB Employees' Union Ranjan Jayalal told News 1st that the "only action" CEB took was to "purchase power at exorbitant rates from private power generators and line their pockets in the process". "Our question is do you need a CEB just to cut off power? One generator that was brought when they saw this imminent power crisis has been fixed on the ground. We ask them if they at least have a plan for the next year? No, they do not have a plan for the upcoming year." he added.