Time of use made mandatory:

New electricity formula for industries

Chaminda PERERA

The Public Utilities Commission yesterday said the electricity fares of domestic customers and Small and Medium Scale industrialists who use less than 120 units a months will not change.

According to the new electricity tariff formula, the Commission has made the Time of Use mandatory though it was optional earlier. Mega industrialists and hoteliers who come under the Industrial CategoryII and III and hoteliers's category III would pay on the basis of mandatory Time of Use tariffs.

The Time of Use has been categorized into three main parts i.e Day from 5.30am to 18.30pm, peak from 18.30pm to 22.30 pm and off peak from 22.30 pm to 5.30am.

High users in the hotel sector have to pay Rs 13 per kwh during day time, Rs 16.90 during the peak hours and Rs 9.10 in off peak hours.