CAA a poor replacement for PUCSL, says LPVSS

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Given that the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) had completely failed to control the prices of essential items; it was highly unlikely that they would be able to fill the shoes of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Lanka Podu Viduli Sevaka Sangamaya (LPVSS) yesterday said commenting on reports that some responsibilities of the PUCSL would be transferred to the CAA after the former’s dissolution.

Secretary of the LPVSS Kasun Boteju told The Island that the dissolution of the PUCSL would have disastrous consequences on consumers of electricity.

“The PUCSL did a relatively good job in protecting consumers. It was interested in regulating the electricity sector, which we all know is one of the most corrupt sectors. PUCSL managed to prevent the purchasing of emergency power, at high rates, on a number of occasions.”.

Boteju said there was a concerted effort by certain sections to rid the sector of a regulator. The absence of a regulator would allow the electricity mafia to sign emergency power purchase agreements at their whims and fancies.

“There are people who try to convince policymakers that the PUCSL is a hindrance to rapid implementation of power projects. This is false. When the CEB presented the generation plans, the PUCSL only objected to a few projects, but some members of the CEB used it as an excuse not to carry out any project. One must wonder why this is. Why are certain projects so important to certain officials?”

He said that although the government wanted to dissolve the PUCSL, it had also not provided an alternative. The electricity sector, like other utilities, needed a regulator to prevent a few senior officials, businessmen and politicians from making disastrous deals whose burden will be passed on to customers, while they amass massive wealth, Boteju said.