COLOMBO (NewsRadio); The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has insisted that the proposed electricity tariff hike cannot be approved.
Speaking to media, PUSCL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said although the Cabinet of Minister approved, a retrospective electricity tariff cannot be implemented under existing laws.
The Cabinet earlier this week approved the proposal of the Minister of Power and Energy to revise the electricity tariff, effective 1st of January 2023.
Earlier this week, PUSCL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said he received the Cabinet decision that saw approval granted to the proposal submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board pertaining to the tariff revision and has informed the PUCSL to engage in consultations with relevant parties and submit revisions before the 15th of February.
Ratnayake said the PUCSL requires 45-50 days for this process, adding that the process of examining the content has already begun.
He added a method of recovering reasonable costs and the method of recovering all costs as stated in the Act will be looked into while discussions are also being held on ensuring a continuous power supply.
However, the PUCSL Chairman said the second column of the Cabinet Paper states that the amendment should be enforced as proposed by the CEB as an interim measure to be effective from the 1st of January 2023.
He said there is no system to revise the electricity bill in a manner that affects the past.
Ratnayake also stated that there is no possibility to amend an interim electricity bill according to the Act.
Accordingly, he stated that based on the proposal he received, the PUCSL will consider the document in line with the electricity demand of this year and will consider how the demand can be met in future.
Meanwhile, PUSCL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake also requested the government to intervene and ensure that the Ceylon Electricity Board be given fuel by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation at cost in order to keep the electricity production cost low.
