Settle due bills or face suspension of electricity supply: Minister

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has decided to suspend the supply of electricity to consumers who fail to settle the due bills, by misusing the COVID-19 concession. "This decision was reached taking into account the financial difficulties faced by the CEB in raising funds, due to the non-payment of electricity bills," Gamini Lokuge, the Minister of Power said on Sunday (Feb. 6). According to the Minister, a concession was granted to the electricity consumers at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, where the supply was not disrupted even if the bills were not settled. "However, the CEB cannot continue this concession, since the due payments from electricity consumers have accumulated to Rs. 44 billion at present," Minister Lokuge pointed out. The CEB has decided to continue the electricity supply only to consumers who settle the monthly bill and 1/12th of the arrears; "If they fail to do so, the electricity supply will be discontinued," the Minister of Power warned. Commenting on the supply of electricity in the upcoming week, amidst the prevailing power crisis, Minister Gamini Lokuge noted that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has promised to supply the necessary fuel stocks to the CEB. Accordingly, if the required fuel stocks are supplied, an uninterrupted supply of electricity could be ensured, he added.