• Says will mobilise public and pursue legal action
• Charges Govt. of breaching promises; says CEB should reduce tariff by 30%

The Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) warned that if the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) fails to reduce electricity tariffs by at least 30% in January 2025, they will mobilise consumers islandwide to stage protests and pursue appropriate legal action.

In its latest tariff revision proposal submitted to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the CEB has stated that the existing tariffs would continue further for the next six months.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on the matter, ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika stated that the CEB management, appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is reneging on all promises made by the President and the Government to the public. "The President and current Government representatives went around the country saying they would reduce electricity tariffs by a considerable rate during election campaigns. But, what does the CEB do now? They make all what the President and others promised, a lie."

Noting that the CEB, in its initial proposal submitted to the PUCSL in October, indicated the possibility of a 6-11% electricity tariff reduction, he alleged that the CEB has contradicted its own statement. "The CEB indicated a 6-11% tariff reduction as it had made profits over the past. How can they now come and say it is better to go ahead with the existing rates? How did the CEB's profit go down just within one and a half months? Did they make false submissions last time? We do not want to listen to their stories. All that the CEB should do is to reduce electricity tariffs by at least 30%. If they do not do it, we will take to the street with consumers in the country and initiate appropriate legal action."

Alleging that the CEB has predicted no rainfall in the coming months and used this forecast as a basis for not reducing electricity tariffs, Dhammika questioned where the relief is for consumers, which is owed for the months when significant rainfall occurred, and hydro-power generation was at its peak. 

"The CEB has made nearly Rs. 200 billion in profits last year (2023) and so far this year. There is a clear policy decision taken by the Government to revise electricity tariffs four times a year. So, how can the CEB go against a Government decision? Does the President and the Government allow the CEB to make their promises a lie?"

CEB Chairperson Dr. Tilak Siyamabapitiya, and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody were not available for comment. 

On 6 December, the CEB submitted its electricity tariff revision proposal to the PUCSL, indicating that the existing tariffs would continue further for the next six months. Earlier in October, a tariff revision proposal was submitted to the PUCSL, and it included a reduction of approximately 6% in electricity tariffs. However, the PUCSL had identified several errors in the proposal and requested corrections with further tariff reductions.