Issuance of printed bills: CEB defies PUCSL directive

By Anuradha Hiripitiyage

Electricity consumers yesterday complained to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had ignored a recent directive that printed bills be issued to customers who asked for them.

Sanjeewa Dhammika, National Secretary of the Electricity Consumers Association, said that despite guidelines issued by the PUCSL affirming consumers’ right to know the details of the amounts they were charged, the CEB had failed to issue detailed bills. “Consumers are in the dark and have no idea how the CEB calculates the amounts since they do not receive bills,” he said.

According to the guidelines provided by the PUCSL on 17 January, after 12 midnight on that day, SMS, or e-bills, should be issued to all customers, except those who have specifically requested printed bills.

“However, the CEB has still not issued printed bills to date. When I inquired with the meter reader about receiving a printed bill, he informed me that he was unaware of any such requirement. The CEB has not provided any bills, and since no messages are sent to my mobile phone either, I currently have no way of knowing whether the new tariffs have been implemented,” Dhammika said, highlighting the plight of all electricity consumers.

“Although the PUCSL has regulatory authority under the Electricity Act, the CEB continues to ignore it. We urge the PUCSL to take immediate action regarding the continued delay in implementing these measures and the failure to enforce its directives,” Dhammika added.