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Overall 20% reduction for all sectors :
Domestic, hotel and industry get benefits:
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday recommended the reduction of overall monthly electricity tariffs by 20 percent for the first six months from January to June 2025 effective midnight yesterday (17).
Steps have been taken to reduce the monthly electricity tariffs for the Domestic category consumers for units 0-30 from Rs.6 to Rs. 4 per unit reduced by 29 percent with the monthly fixed charge reduced from Rs. 100 to Rs. 75. Units 31-60 has been reduced from Rs. 9 to Rs. 6 per unit reduced by 28 percent with the monthly fixed charge reduced from Rs. 250 to Rs. 200 providing relief to the low end electricity users in the country.
Domestic consumption units 61-90 has been reduced by 19 percent, 91-180 units reduced by 18 percent and more than 180 units by 19 percent with the monthly fixed charges remaining the same as before.
Monthly electricity tariffs of places of worship has been reduced by 21 percent while rates of Hotels have been reduced by 31 percent and Industries reduced by 30 percent encouraging tourism and business promotions in the country. Electricity tariff rates for Government institutions have been reduced by 11 percent, General purpose category by 12 percent and street lamps by 11 percent.
This reduction in electricity tariffs was announced by the PUCSL at a time when the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had proposed to the PUCSL that tariffs should not be reduced for the first six months of 2025.
However, the PUCSL submitted a counter proposal and conducted public consultations opening a forum for the public covering all nine provinces to forward their ideas and suggestions on electricity tariff rates revision orally and in writing from December 17, 2024 to January 10, 2025 based on the provisions of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act and the PUCSL Act. According to the PUCSL, around 400 people have submitted proposals during nine public consultation sessions held during the period.
Accordingly, the Commission which met yesterday morning under the chairmanship of Prof.Lalith Chandralal, Engineer Piyal Hennayake and Dr. Chathurie Samanmali Fernando, finalized on all recommendations and decided to reduce the electricity rates for all categories by 20 percent and the monthly electricity tariff reduction was officially announced during a media briefing held yesterday afternoon at the PUCSL premises.
Special approval has been granted for an optional prepaid tariff scheme by Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) for retail customers that has been introduced with the reduced unit rates and will be implemented by April 2025 for consumers who want better control on their daily electricity consumption.
The PUCSL has announced conditions for Licensees and accordingly, CEB shall enter into a fuel supply agreement by March 31, 2025. Also the SMS or E-Billing shall be carried out only with a written consent of the consumer and fixed charges for solar consumers shall be based on the net consumption.
CEB ready to comply after Ministry nod
The Ceylon Electricity Board yesterday said that the new electricity tariff revision recommended by the Public Utilities Commission will be implemented after it is received to the Board officially, on the advice of Finance Ministry.
Varuna Dayaratne
