Consumers get 3-month payment concessions for electricity bill 

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will be providing a concessionary reduction on electricity bills of consumers for March, April and May during the COVID-19 curfew period in the island, according to the Ministry of Power and Energy.

A concession of Rs. 3 billion has been approved by the CEB on the cabinet decision taken recently to offset the high usage of power by consumers during the three month period, a ministry statement said.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera in his cabinet memorandum has suggested to bear this cost by the government and it was approved by the cabinet on July 23.

The CEB has taken measures to bring down its losses to Rs.63 billion from the estimated loss of Rs.93 billion this year, Chairman of the Board Vijitha Herath said.

The government has paid a sum of Rs.48 billion to settle CEB dues to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation using the money from the Petroleum Stabilisation Fund established at the Treasury with the savings from the decreasing fuel prices in the world market.

This concession will be given to 6.7 million electricity consumers in the country and they will have to pay the amount indicated in the February bill in settling the bills of March to May.

If any consumer had paid an excess for the bills for the three months, then the CEB will deduct the money from future bill payments, Mr. Herath said. (BS)