Prepaid electricity meter facility with new tariff
View(s):Sri Lankans will be getting a prepaid electricity meter facility with new tariff structure soon replacing the existing domestic electricity meters, Power and Energy Ministry sources said.
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Lanka Electricity Company (LECO), Dialog Axiata and the Ministry of Power and Energy will be implementing this programme to introduce a smart meter.
This new electricity meter will have a prepaid wallet to facilitate prepaid electricity metering, a senior official of the ministry said.
The CEB will be launching a series of new initiatives such as setting up a new electricity billing system, providing new home electricity connections within a week and providing immediate solutions to consumer problems.
The Public Utilities Commission has given the green light to an optional tariff for domestic users who consume 3-phase, 30 A or above power supply, he added.
The tariff will come into effect soon and consist of three separate time periods including off peak (2230-0530), day (0530-1830) and peak (1830-2230), which will be separately metered and billed.
The CEB will levy Rs.13 per kWh or unit during off-peak hours, Rs. 25 during day hours and Rs. 54 during peak hours.
The new tariff structure is aimed at encouraging consumers to use electricity during off-peak times for the purpose of ironing clothes and charging electric vehicles.
However consumer societies vehemently oppose the new tariff structure for the peak hour period where people need electricity for their normal activities at houses after work.
They allege that consumers will have to pay an exorbitant electricity bill for house lighting, viewing of television, using computers, cooking with rice cookers and other house work normally being carried out during peak hour period.
According to the present electricity tariff, Rs.7.85 per unit is levied for the first 60 units, Rs.10 per unit for the next 30 units, Rs 27.75 per unit for the next block of units and Rs.32 per unit if the consumption is more than 120 units.
Under the existing tariff normal electricity consumers’ electricity bill per month will be in the region of Rs. 1000 to a maximum of Rs. 3000.
However under the new system, they will have to pay a minimum of Rs. 3000 for using 60 units during the peak hours whereas the present charges for using 60 units during this time block is Rs. 450.
(BS)