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25% electricity tariff reduction not for big consumers
The Government has decided to limit the promised 25 per cent reduction on electricity bills only to those who use less than 300 units a month, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman W.B. Ganegala said yesterday.
He said the decision to limit the rebate to those using less than 300 units was taken to provide the maximum benefit for the average consumer.
He said that on Friday the Treasury gave approval to the proposal and the new tariff system is being prepared. The gazette notification is due early next week.
The reduction in the charges would be effective from September 16, the day President Mahinda Rajapaksa made the announcement after he and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the third phase of the Norochcholai power plant, he said.
However, the reduction for September would only be reflected in the October bill as the meter readers would have to be given the new tariff system, the chairman said.
Earlier the National Electricity Consumers’ Movement expressed concern about the manner in which the concession would be provided.
It pointed out that if a 25 per cent reduction was to be given to all consumers those with high consumption would benefit more.
The announcement of the big reduction in electricity charges came four days before the Uva provincial elections, but the Government said the reduction was possible due to the launching of the third phase of the Norochcolai power plant.