PUCSL Chairman hints at electricity tariff hike

Minister Lokuge says there will be no price increase

By Ifham Nizam

Public Utilities Commission Chairman Janaka Ratnayake says the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) cannot go on making annual losses between Rs. 50 and 60 billion, and a electricity tariff hike will be inevitable.

Speaking to The Island, the head of the power regulator stressed that there had been no power tariff hikes for more than 10 years.

Ratnayake warned that with El Nino and La Nina would hamper the CEB’s hydro power generation capacity.

As for a tariff hike, he said, a porposal to that effect should come from CEB.

Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge, however, told the media yesterday that there was no need for an power tariff hike, and the government would bring the situation under control.

Ratnayake also said that the CEB engineers could not go on power shedding according to their whims and fancies. “If they continue with power cuts without proper management we will be forced to act under the provisions of the CEB Act.”