New Electricity Bill to Parliament within next two weeks - Kanchana

The new Electricity Act, which was prepared with the aim of streamlining the activities of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and providing an efficient and excellent service to the consumers, will be submitted to Parliament within the next two weeks, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

 

Increased rainfall in reservoir catchment areas is boosting electricity generation. If this trend persists through December and the CEB achieves a profit, consumers may benefit from the surplus, said Minister Wijesekera said while addressing a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat.

 

"It must be said that the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board has been discussed for a long time in the country. The report on the restructuring of the CEB and the proposal related to the new Electricity Act were presented to the Cabinet during the meeting held last Monday. It has been possible to get Cabinet approval for this Bill," the Minister added.

 

"Accordingly, steps will be taken to gazette and submit the proposed new Electricity Act to Parliament within the next two weeks," Minister Wijesekara said.

 

"Since January this year, the CEB has incurred a loss of Rs. 12 billion.

 

"So far, rains have been experienced in the vicinity of the hydro-electricity power plants. But the CEB is still not profitable.

 

"If there is an operational profit through the financial calculation of the CEB by December, then the relief will be passed on to the consumers in April.

 

"Also, the relevant departments have been instructed to revise the fees charged for re-connection after power cuts.

 

"Accordingly, it is hoped that the reconnection fee, which is currently Rs. 3,000, will be revised to between Rs.1,000 and Rs.2,000,"

 

Minister Kanchana Wijesekara assured.