• Appointment of PUCSL Chair up to President

The Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) yesterday (18) alleged that the Government is delaying the appointment of a Chairperson to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to avoid the implementation of the proposed electricity tariff revision, which is expected at the end of the month.

Following the removal of Janaka Ratnayake, the position of its Chairperson is still vacant. As such, the PUCSL is yet to approve the proposed electricity tariff revision proposed by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). The tariff revision expected by the end of June is one that many customers, including industrialists, anticipate will see a reduction in the price of electricity.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (18), the Chairman of the ECA, Sanjeewa Dhammika charged that the Government is deliberately delaying the appointment of a Chairperson to the PUCSL. "The Government and Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera were in a great hurry to remove Ratnayake. However, they are not interested in appointing a Chairperson now. That is because the Government is trying to get the CEB to go ahead with the current rates." Dhammika argued.

According to him the tariff change that the CEB has proposed, points to an overall reduction of electricity tariffs by merely 3%, despite the possibility to reduce them by 30%. "There is a possibility to reduce electricity tariffs by 30% given the prevailing costs of electricity generation, but the Government is misleading the people by proposing a 3% reduction. By doing so, the Government is attempting to keep the CEB's income at a higher level so that they can convince the investors and go ahead with the CEB privatisation plan." claimed Dhammika.

The position of PUCSL Chairman was left vacant following the removal of its former Chairman Ratnayake through a resolution presented to Parliament in accordance with Section 07 of the PUCSL Act. It was debated in parliament on 24 May.

The Daily Morning last week inquired from a member of the PUCSL as to whether they would call the public consultation on the proposed electricity tariff revision, to which the member said that it would not happen any time soon as a Chairperson is yet to be appointed to the PUCSL. "The members of the PUCSL have not met for almost three months with the problematic situation that prevailed. Basically we cannot do anything without the presence of the Chairperson." the member said.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Daily Morning last week, CEB Chairman, Nalinda Illangakoon said that the CEB is ready to implement the proposed tariff revision from 1 July, only if the PUCSL approves it within due course.

"This is something that should happen from their end. If they do not approve this tariff revision, we will have to continue with the existing tariff rates." Illangakoon stressed.

However, when asked about the current situation regarding the appointment of a Chairperson to the PUCSL, an official of the Power and Energy Ministry said that it is not a procedure that comes under the Ministry. "The appointment of the Chairperson is done by the President. There is no intervention of the Ministry in that regard."

Attempts to contact the Presidential Secretariat to inquire if a replacement for the PUCSL Chairperson Post has been nominated, proved futile. This, while the president is overseas and expected to return later this week.