By Ifham Nizam
Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Dr. Jayatissa de Costa said that the commission had not received any directions, from the Power and Energy Ministry, not to increase the electricity tariffs this year.
Costa, a lawyer, told The Island that under the Electricity Act and the PUCSL Act, he had the sole powers to decide on the matter.
He stressed that there was no request made by anyone.
The Commission was only answerable to President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Finance Minister and the line minister working with the Commission.
"We always give effect to the Government’s policies as an independent regulatory body," he said.
PUCSL Chairman said that as stated in January, this year, the Commission was awaiting for the written response from the Treasury regarding its readiness to bear any loss incurred by the Ceylon Electricity Board.
He also said that the Commission had given seven alternatives to the Treasury on CEB losses. PUCSL submitted proposals regarding the increase of electricity tariffs by January 1. However, de Costa said it was up to the Treasury to decide whether to increase tariff charges or subsidize the public utility.
There was no timeframe as such and they could get the response at anytime, therefore the electricity tariff could be maintained without amendments for six months, he said.
He rejected reports that the first 90 units per month eligible for the concessionary rate would be reduced to 30. More than 78 per cent of the electricity consumers are in the low income group and use less than 90 units per month, he said. Deputy Power and Energy Minister Premalal Jayasekera yesterday told parliament that the Ministry had requested the PUCSL not to increase the tariffs.
Jayasekera had made the comment in response to a question posed by United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayaka.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=45027
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