The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday approved a sharp 22% downward revision of electricity tariffs effective last night.
The move follows a thorough review of proposals and cost data submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), by the provisions of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009 and the regulations of the PUCSL.
Originally the CEB proposed a 3.4% reduction in January, followed by a revised proposal of 16% in February, however, the electricity regulator ultimately decided on a reduction of 21.9% after considering public consultations and reviewing cost data.
The new tariff revision, effective immediately, provides maximum relief to all user categories. Notably, users utilising less than 30 units of electricity in the domestic sector will experience a 33% reduction in tariffs. Additionally, those using between 61 and 90 units will benefit from a 30% reduction, while those using between 91 and 180 units will see a 24% reduction. Electricity users utilising over 180 units will receive an 18% reduction.
Religious places will see a 33% reduction in tariffs, while general-purpose consumers and Government institutions will experience reductions of 23% and 22%, respectively. Tariffs for hotel and industrial sectors will decrease by 18% and street lamp tariffs will be reduced by 20%.
Moreover, under the new tariff structure, the monthly fixed charge for electricity users using less than 30 units will decrease from Rs. 180 to Rs. 150, with the unit price reduced from Rs. 12 to Rs. 8. For electricity usage between 31 and 60 units, the monthly charge will decrease from Rs. 360 to Rs. 300, with the unit price reduced from Rs. 30 to Rs. 20.
The PUCSL has also imposed conditions on CEB to settle the due payments and arrears of interest to owners of renewable power plants, including roof-mounted solar power plants, before 31 of this month.
Additionally, the CEB is required to develop plans to achieve the target renewable electricity generation by 2030 and submit the proposal before 30 June.
Alongside the tariff revision, the PUCSL has imposed an additional 13 conditions for implementation by the CEB.
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