Water tariff hike in the pipeline

The water tariff would have to be increased if electricity tariffs were revised, Water Supply minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said yesterday.

Nanayakkara said discussions on the possible tariff hikes had been held with his ministry officials. The minister said that while the increase in fuel price did not affect the cost of supplying water, there would be an increase in the cost of pumping water if electricity tariff went up due to the fuel price hikes.

“In that eventuality we will be compelled to raise water tariffs except for the consumers who use it sparingly,” he said.

However, until electricity prices increased they couldn’t comment on when and how the prices would go up, the minister said.

The recent fuel price hikes are expected to result in an increase in electricity tariffs as the Ceylon Electricity Board is dependent on fossil fuels for thermal power generation.

(RK)