Power and Energy certification a must:

Stern action against fake CFL dealers

Suraj A Bandara

The Power and Energy Ministry is to take stern legal action against traders and manufacturers who sell and stock CFL bulbs without the proper Power and Energy Ministry certification label.

The Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) will expedite islandwide raids to crackdown on errant businessmen and traders. The Consumer Protection Act has allowed through Gazette Notification 1611/10 to sell or stock CFL bulbs only if they have been labeled with the certification label issued by the Power and Energy Ministry.

Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) sources said power consumption can be reduced by 80 percent if consumers are provided with genuine CFL bulbs.

The use of fake or low quality CFL bulbs will not help save power as expected from the CFL bulbs. Only Power and Energy Ministry certified CFL bulbs will reduce the power consumption by 80 percent, it said.

The CEB, LECO and SEA will take legal action against those involved in the manufacture and distribution of sub-standard CFL bulbs which violate the Consumer Protection Act.

The ministry added that it requires the assistance of the public in taking legal action against such violators and any complaints regarding the sale of sub-standard CFL bulbs can be reported via the hotline 1901. The ministry added that the Renewable Energy Authority has taken steps to conduct islandwide awareness programmes and raids regarding this.