Fate of Rs 25 billion CEB consumer deposit fund in doubt – Activist

By Anuradha Hiripitiyage

There was a possibility that over Rs. 25 billion in consumer deposits with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would not be refunded due to the dissolution of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Secretary of the Union of Electricity Consumers (UEC) Sanjeewa Dhammika told The Island yesterday.

When a person obtained an electricity connection from the CEB, he or she had to place a deposit at the regional CEB Engineer’s office. As per Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 20 of 2009, the CEB has to pay consumers an interest on those deposits, Dhammika said.Section 28.3 of the Act says ‘(3): Where any sum of money is provided to a distribution licensee by way of security in pursuance of this section, the licensee (CEB) shall pay interest on such sum of money at such rate as may from time to time be fixed by the licensee with the approval of the Commission (PUCSL), for the period in which it remains in the hands of the licensee.’

Dhammika said: “None of the governments has paid this interest although the PUCSL annually declares the interest rate that has to be paid. Now, there is about Rs. 25 billion of our money with the CEB. Since the PUCSL is to be dissolved, who is there to keep an eye on this money?”

Dhammika said that with Rs. 25 billion the government could construct a 100 megawatt power plant. The CEB should not be allowed to swindle the Rs. 25 billion that belonged to the electricity consumers, he insisted.

“The PUCSL was the only place we could go to over issues related to electricity. It has already resolved over 6,000 cases. If the PUCSL is dissolved what are we to do? Are we to take legal action? How many of us can afford to go to court?”

Certain sections were trying to create the impression that PUCSL didn’t let the CEB work. After the present government came to power, the PUCSL was asked to approve three LNG plants and two were approved within a month, he said.

“The problem with the remaining project is that the tender process has not been followed. The PUCSL can’t approve a project that didn’t follow a tender process. It’s against the Act.”

From 2016, the PUCSL has approved the construction of power plants that could have added 1,450 megawatts to the national grid, Dhammika said. Those plants however were not constructed by the CEB.”

Dhammika warned that once the PUCSL was gone it was likely that electricity tariffs would be increased. “As long as the PUCSL existed, it determined what the price of a unit of electricity was. Without a regulator, the CEB could quote any price they want.”

The PUCSL had commenced giving certificates for electricians and so far about 20,000 had received accreditation, Dhammika said Dhammika said, adding that there were around 45,000 electricians in the country and that 90% of them did not have professional certification.

“They only have experience. The PUCSL has commenced an initiative to provide them with accreditation. The PUCSL was also to introduce a scheme that allowed electricians to study and sit for NVQs. Electricians from 20 districts have already been identified for the programme. If the PUCSL is dissolved, all this will stop. We urge the government not to go ahead with this disastrous policy.”

Minister Alahapperuma was not immediately available for comment.