CEB wants rooftop solar systems shut down during day time, until April 21

(UPDATED) -The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) today further extended an appeal to rooftop solar system owners to voluntarily   switch off their solar systems during day time hours until 3,00 p.m.  on each day from April 13 to April 21.

Earlier in the day  the CEB appealed to switch off the systems today until  3:00 PM,  due to low electricity demand in the national grid.

‘Due to the extended holiday period and sunny weather, national electricity demand has plummeted to historic lows, while very high Variable Renewable Energy contribution is placing an extraordinary stress on the national grid’, the CEB said in a press release.

The CEB warned that the situation was highly vulnerable to sudden disruptions. ‘Even a minor fluctuation could trigger partial outages or a nationwide blackout’, the press release added.

The CEB’s appeal has drawn strong reactions from the renewable energy sector questioning as to why the CEB could not cut down its own production instead of appealing to the rooftop solar system owners who have invested their own money in installing systems.

Also the question has been raised as to why the CEB did not anticipate the situation as they were aware of the long holidays and the current weather conditions.