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CEB to lower rooftop solar tariff from July 1
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Solar panels have become more common Pic by Eshan Fernando
By Niranjala Ariyawansha
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has taken steps to lower the rooftop solar tariff paid to consumers with effect from July 1, in accordance with a decision made by the Government and a circular to this effect having gone out this week.
Accordingly, the previously paid rooftop solar tariff has been reduced from 37 to 27 rupees for domestic consumers and from 34 to 23 rupees for large scale bulk suppliers respectively.
However, CEB is scheduled to sign agreements with all customers who have completed grid clearance and paid installation charges prior to July 1, to purchase electricity for 20 years at the same rates as before.
CEB has bought a rooftop solar power unit from domestic customers for 37 rupees and from bulk suppliers for 34 rupees up to now, and on July 1, the cabinet approved to reduce these prices.
Based on the letter sent by the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, Dr Sulakshana Jayawardena, on August 6, CEB has issued the circular containing the new tariffs on Friday, August 8.
According to that circular, domestic consumers and bulk suppliers who have made payments and have completed grid clearance and installation before July 1 will be paid the same tariff as previously.
Generally, the grid clearance given by CEB is valid for 3 months. The installation should be completed within those 3 months by paying the installation charges.
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The Ministry Secretary said that under those circumstances, the new tariff system will be implemented for all customers who have only obtained grid clearance and whose validity has exceeded 3 months.
Nevertheless, for example, if a domestic customer had obtained grid clearance on June 1, that person has 3 months till September 1 to pay the installation charges and install the solar panel, and only such domestic customers will be paid the previous fee of Rs 37.
This does not apply to bulk suppliers.
Since the solar power tariff in the world market has decreased significantly, a committee consisting of a number of stakeholders, the General Treasury, CEB, and the Ministry of Power and Energy officials had made the decision on the tariff revision, the Ministry Secretary said.
“During this price revision, domestic consumers were especially considered. Domestic customers have invested a huge sum for a rooftop solar panel, maybe they are in debt or they had used their pension. They expected to be paid the previous Rs 37. That is why we decided to pay the original fees to customers who had completed only the grid clearance prior to 1 July and has not exceeded the 3-month period,” added the Ministry Secretary.
On October 22, 2022, the Cabinet had granted approval to pay a higher price of Rs 37 to a domestic customer and Rs 34 to bulk suppliers as rooftop solar tariff.
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