Cabinet approval to seek AG’s advice to amend PUCSL and Electricity Acts
Move aimed at limiting PUCSL powers to consumer protection, regulating safety standards
New power projects to get go ahead from Cabinet with no intervention from PUCSL
Cabinet note says PUCSL standing in way of new projects has led to looming crisis in power sector
Says around $ 2 b investment in sector likely in next 24 months
By Asiri Fernando
Cabinet yesterday gave approval to seek advice from the Attorney General (AG) to amend the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act and the Sri Lanka Electricity Act and related legislation as the Government pushes ahead with winding up the PUCSL, which opponents say will weaken industry regulation and open the door to large-scale corruption.
Share:
COLOMBO (News1st): The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) chairman has downgraded the country’s power regulator, dismissing its contribution to keeping electricity bills at low levels, drawing flak from several civic groups.
“The cost of electricity bills had not been increased only based on the government’s decision,” Vijitha Herath, the CEB chairman told News 1st.
Moves to shut down the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) – based on a directive by the President’s Secretary – has drawn severe condemnation citing it would facilitate fraudulent power deals.
But the chairman of the state-run electricity board has accused the PUCSL of taking “political decisions” and not acting genuinely.
HomeNewsImplementation of power generation plans PUCSL Employees Union denies allegations Implementation of power generation plans PUCSL Employees Union denies allegations 18 December 2020 12:00 am - 0
The Employees Union of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said yesterday denied the allegation made by certain parties that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has delayed the implementation of power generation plans is a baseless and completely false statement.
Issuing a statement, the Union said, According to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, the Commission is responsible for approving power generation plans and approving the calling for proposals to build power plants (Request for Proposals) and Power Purchasing Agreements. Accordingly, the Commission has given its fullest cooperation and approval to the Ceylon Electricity Board for implementing the Least Cost Long Term Generation Plans.
Not limiting to the approval of Power Generation Plan the Commission urged the relevant parties to implement the power generation plans without a delay
The allegation made by certain parties that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has delayed the implementation of power generation plans is a baseless and completely false statement. According to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, the Commission is responsible for approving power generation plans and approving the calling for proposals to build power plants (Request for Proposals) and Power Purchasing Agreements.
The allegation made by certain parties that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has delayed the implementation of power generation plans is a baseless and completely false statement. According to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, the Commission is responsible for approving power generation plans and approving the calling for proposals to build power plants (Request for Proposals) and Power Purchasing Agreements.
POWER MAFIA EMPOWERED - 0
Sri Lanka had not been able to get the best possible technology for power generation
The PUCSL would call for tenders with the participation of all stakeholders before implementing an electricity project
There are about 600 complaints a year regarding electricity services
The power mafia comprises crooked businessmen, engineers, bureaucrats and politicians
The lack of transparency adversely impacted investor confidence, which in turn negatively impacted the whole economy
The Auditor General has also revealed that the electricity from diesel could have been purchases at Rs 18 when Rs 45 to Rs 65 was charged per unit
In a surprise move, President’s Secretary P.B. Jayasundera on December 1 wrote to Treasury Secretary