Power piracy eradication :

CEB saves Rs 1 billion

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

The Ceylon Electricity Board(CEB) has saved Rs 1 billion by eradicating electricity-related crimes, such as conductor theft, illegal connections and vandalism.

Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka said the Ceylon Electricity Board is on the verge of being converted into a vibrant and economically stable utility as a result of its energized fight carried out in 2010 against electricity thefts backed up by its increased hydro power generation and aggressive managerial measures taken to recover its generation costs from consumers.

CEB working Director Roshan Gunawardena yesterday said CEB has acquired over Rs 1 billion as fines imposed for power piracy.

The Board arrested over 6,000 people last year for illegally tapping power from its grid, he said.

The CEB could recover Rs 118.16 billion from electricity sales last year after selling electricity for a total value of Rs. 121 billion.

Over the past nine years from 2000 to 2009, it incurred a loss of Rs. 116 billion.

The levels of electricity wastage has been brought down from 14.59 percent to 13.32 percent in 2010. .

The electricity wastage reduction, which was less than 0.5 percent over the years has been optimized to 1.19 under the CEB's Network Recovery Program with orders from Minister Ranawaka to crack hard down on errant electricity tappers throughout the country.