Power tariff hike:

Places of religious worship cushioned by Rs. 1.2 billion subsidy

Chaminda Perera

The government yesterday reiterated that places of religious interest will not face the impact of the power tariff hike as their tariffs will not be increased under any circumstances. According to Power and Energy Ministry Secretary MMC Ferdinando, the government provides a subsidy of Rs. 1.2 billion to places of religious interest around the country and this subsidy would remain intact.

Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman W. B. Ganegala said that no changes would take place in the power tariff of religious places. Ganegala added that places of religious worship have to pay a very nominal fee for power usage due to this subsidy amounting to over Rs. 1.2 billion.

According to CEB sources, the religious places using 0 – 30 units per month will have to pay Rs. 1.90 per unit whereas the actual cost of a unit is Rs. 23.90.

The places of religious worship using 31 – 90 units, 91 - 120 units , 121 – 180 units and above 180 units would have to pay Rs. 2.50, Rs. 3.50, Rs. 5.00 and Rs. 7.00 respectively per unit. Over 34,000 places of religious worship belonging to all denominations in the country are benefited by this subsidy.

There are over 8,000 religious places in the country where power usage does not exceed 30 units . Over 10,000 places of religious worship use power in the range of 31– 90 units while 3728 religious places use 91– 120 units a month. About 4,827 places of religious interests use 121 – 180 units a month while the power usage of 7,337 religious places exceed about 180 units a month.

The religious institutions have to pay a minimal amount of Rs. 7.00 per unit for a unit whereas the actual cost of a unit is about Rs. 23.80.