Use power with care

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: The Power and Energy Ministry requested the public to use electricity with extra care so as not to waste power until the rainy season begins. The Ministry said there was a decline in the water levels in hydro reservoirs due to dry weather conditions. But the situation does not call for power cuts, the Ministry maintained.

A Ministry spokesman said an estimated 20 per cent of power is lost to the country because of people's carelessness and unawareness.

"We request the public to use electricity avoiding potential wastage which could result from their carelessness and unawareness," he said.

"The people can limit the use of their air-condition units, electric kettles and irons. They can also refrain from using high voltage bulbs so as to save power as well as prevent from having to pay exorbitant electricity bills," the spokesman said.

He said the Power and Energy Ministry had already introduced a power conservation programme for Government and private sector institutions including the industrial and trade sectors, which whereby it is expected to preserve 20 per cent of the power used by these establishments.