Date of publication: 07-05-2013
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Cabinet Minister are at odds over the proposed power rate relief package to low income and efficient consumers.
President Rajapaksa has ordered that consumers with less than 60 units of electricity per month shall be exempted from the recent increase in rates and others using up to 180 units be given different benefits, but the power and the Department of energy has approved a tariff revision that benefit only those who use less than 30 units, according to a senior official.
A letter published on 3 may 2013 by the power and Energy Ministry signed by Ministry Secretary m. m. c. Ferdinando States that consumers who use between 31 and 60 units of electricity per month should be charged at the rate of force before 20 April 2013.
Accordingly, it states that the fuel adjustment cost (FAC) will be reduced from 35 percent to 30 percent, and the energy cost of 6.00 that 4.70 Sri Lankan rupees (US $ 0.047 to 0.037) per unit.
The official said: "However, prior to the last update on April 20, the price per unit amounted to Rs. 4.00 and FAC 25 percent. Going by this formula must pay 33 percent more a consumer. In other words, it is clearly against the President policy directive. "
Going by the latest revision of the rate, will that make use of between 30 and 60 units of electricity not the extra five units, which means that there is an increase of 80 per cent for the use of an additional unit will be received.
When contacted, public utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chief Dr. Finlay the Costa has said that according to the Sri Lanka electricity Act No. 20 of 2009 article 30, Sub section two and four, the Treasury and cabinet can decide on a grant.
He said the Commission to the recommendations and the proposal of President Mahinda Rajapaksa would keep. However, he did not comment on the latest proposals of power and Energy Ministry.
* US $ 1 = 126.38 Sri Lanka rupee
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