Decision on non-payment of electricity bills today (17)

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) will issue a directive on Thursday (Feb. 17), requiring consumers who have defaulted on their electricity bills, to settle the outstanding bills within 03-months. As per the directive, the power supply will be suspended to the consumers, who fail to settle the bills, Janaka Ratnayake, the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission told News 1st. The PUCSL informed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) on Wednesday (Feb. 16), to disconnect the supply of electricity from the National Grid to large-scale consumers including companies, allowing them to source electricity using their generators. The PUCSL is prepared to pay Rs. 36/- per unit for those sourcing electricity via generators, Janaka Ratnayake said. Whilst rejecting the CEB's request to go for scheduled power cuts for a period of 03-months, the PUCSL introduced a series of recommendations, to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. The Ceylon Electricity Board said the PUCSL's recommendations were received via an e-mail on Wednesday (16) night. The PUCSL's recommendations are not practical, Dr. Rohantha Abeysekera, the General Manager of the CEB pointed out. Whilst accepting that households can be requested to limit the use of ACs and the private sector can be requested to use their own generators, Dr. Rohantha Abeysekera emphasized that it is impossible to monitor these measures. However, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake noted that the recommendations are practical, adding that the CEB only has to implement the recommendations. A discussion will be held with the PUCSL today (17), on the practical issues in implementing the recommendations, Dr. Rohantha Abeysekera told News 1st.