Electricity tariff hike: PUCSL to seek AG’s advice

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has assured the National Council (NC) that it will seek the advice of the Attorney General regarding the possibility of increasing the electricity charges retrospectively and requesting for prompt approval for the increase in the electricity charges, according to a statement issued by Parliament yesterday (25).

The proposal to raise electricity charges was discussed when the NC met in Parliament, on Tuesday (24) under the chairmanship of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana with the participation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Addressing the Council meeting, the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera mentioned that the electricity charges had been revised in 2014 to take effect retrospectively. The Minister stated that he could provide necessary documents to the Commission if necessary. He also said the opinion of the Attorney General had to be obtained as soon as possible.

The officials of the Electricity Board pointed out that the operating costs of the Ceylon Electricity Board had reached an unsustainable level.