Are losses from the substandard coal tender and the solar power crisis being passed on through higher electricity tariffs?

2026-02-14 - 16:29

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking a revision of electricity tariffs for the second quarter of this year, the Commission said. According to reports, the proposal calls for an increase in electricity tariffs of 13.56 per cent. The proposed tariff increase is intended to apply for the period from 1 April to 30 June. Accordingly, the charge per unit for consumption between 0 and 30 units is proposed to be increased from Rs. 4.50 to Rs. 5.11. For 31 to 60 units, the rate of Rs. 8.00 per unit is to be raised to Rs. 9.08. For consumption between 61 and 90 units, the existing tariff of Rs. 18.50 per unit is proposed to be increased to Rs. 21.01. For 91 to 120 units, the rate is to rise from Rs. 24.00 to Rs. 27.25 per unit, while for 121 to 180 units, the tariff of Rs. 41.00 per unit is proposed to be increased to Rs. 46.56. For consumption exceeding 181 units, the current charge of Rs. 61.00 per unit is expected to be raised to Rs. 69.27, according to the proposal submitted by the Electricity Board. However, experts in the power sector point out that the losses arising from the controversial substandard coal tender, as well as the failure to properly integrate electricity generated using solar power into the national grid, could have been addressed in a manner that would have reduced the need to increase electricity tariffs to some extent.