CEB refutes certain news reports, clarifies its position:

President’s relief given as it is

The Ceylon Electricity Board yesterday reiterated the relief measures announced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the consumers will be implemented as they are with the concurrence of Public Utilities Commission and they would come into effect from April 20.

The Board in a statement under the hand of Chairman W. B. Ganegala has referred to some news reports yesterday to the effect that the concessions announced by the President on May Day in relation to the new electricity tariff that was effective from April 20, would not be forthcoming.

Following is the statement released by the Board:

There had been some news reports today to the effect that the concessions announced by the President on the May Day in relation to the New Electricity Tariff that was effective from April 20,2013 would not be forthcoming. Ceylon Electricity Board is concerned about such reports and wishes to clarify the correct position as follows:

The unit charge related to the consumers between 0-30 kWh per month had previously been Rs. 3.00 per kWh.

Similarly the unit charge related to the consumers between 31-60 kWh per month had previously been Rs. 4.70 per kWh.

There would not be any change to those rates and the bill would be prepared using these same unit rates.

The total bill of a consumer who uses 30 kWh per month would now be restored to Rs. 142.50 for the month, which would be a reduction from the total bill of Rs. 217.50 for the month, based on the previously announced rates.

The unit charges of consumers between 0-60 kWh per month would also remain unchanged. However, since the subsidy available for the consumers of this range is different from that of the consumers between 0-60 kWh per month, the revised charge for this category would change as follows. The prevailing charge for a consumer using 60 kWh is Rs. 371.85 per month. The charge for such consumer on the basis of the previously announced rates would be Rs. 546.00 per month. But under the revision, this charge would now become Rs. 426.60 per month. It has to be noted that the Fuel Adjustment Charge of 35 percent prevailed previously for such consumers had been revised downwards to 30 percent under the revised rates.

In the case of consumers, whose consumption goes beyond 90 kWh, but not exceeding 96 kWh per month, they would be billed at the same rate applicable for consumption below 90 kWh per month. CEB urges that this concession should be utilized sparingly and every efforts should be taken by such consumers to keep their consumption below 90 kWh per month.

In the case of consumes, whose consumption falls below 180 kWh per month, the prevailing fuel adjustment charge has been reduced by 25 percent. Therefore, the FAC for consumers from 31-180 kWh per month will now become 30 percent.

From the above, it should be evident that the concessions announced by the President on May 1, 2013 would be availed to the consumers with the concurrence of the Public Utilities Commission.