PUCSL approves to increase electricity tariffs by 75%

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the regulator of the electricity industry has approved a new electricity tariff revision providing reliefs to domestic electricity consumers. 

The PUCSL granted approval to increase electricity tariffs by 75%.

The new rates will be effective from 10th of August 2022. 

Trariff Increase: 

0 - 30 Units : 264%

31 - 60 Units: 211%

61 - 90 Units: 125%

91 - 120 Units: 89%

121 - 180 Units: 79%

The consumer category with consumption less than 30 units will be charged 25 percent of the cost. They still get 75 percent of subsidy.

The consumers come under the category of above 31 units and below 60 units are charged 40 percent of the total cost. They get a 60 percent of subsidy. 

Only 50 percent of the actual cost is charged from the category of units above 61 and below 90.  A 50 percent of subsidy is also given to that category. 

Accordingly, 75 % of the electricity consumers are still being subsidized even with the new tariff revision, said the Chairman of the PUCSL.

Steps have also been taken to encourage electricity consumers to promote renewable electricity generation with the tariff revision decision.

The Chairman of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, Janaka Ratnayake also said that the new tariff revision has been prepared to provide relief to the hotel sector and the industrial sector.

"During the last 9 years, the value of the dollar has increased by 190 percent. Therefore, the industries in the export sector will not be greatly affected by this electricity tariff revision. Instead of the 116 percent tariff increase proposed by the Ceylon Electricity Board for industries, hotels and general-purpose sectors with low electricity consumption will get an approved tariff increase of 39 percent for the public sector and a 75 percent for the industrial sector. Only 50 percent of the increase in the approved rates, especially for the tourism sector, will come into effect on 10th of August 2022. The remaining 50 percent tariff increase will come into effect after another three months as an incentive and relief, facilitating the tourism industry to recover. In addition, it has been decided to provide a 1.5 percent discount when electricity bills are paid in dollars as a relief to the tourism and export industries," he added.