Electricity Bills Could Have Been 20% Lower, Consumers' Association Charges

Sri Lanka's electricity consumers may have been paying significantly more than necessary for their power, according to a claim made by the Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) on Tuesday.

The ECA alleged that electricity tariffs could have been reduced by approximately 20 percent had the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) properly accounted for losses resulting from the use of substandard coal in power generation.

Regulatory Oversight Under Scrutiny

The association's remarks have cast fresh scrutiny on the PUCSL, the independent regulatory body responsible for overseeing Sri Lanka's electricity and other public utility sectors. The ECA contends that the commission failed to adequately factor in financial losses stemming from poor-quality coal when determining the current tariff structure.

Had those losses been correctly assessed and reflected in the tariff revision process, consumers across the country would have benefited from a notable reduction in their electricity bills, the association argued.

Burden on Households and Businesses

Electricity pricing remains a deeply sensitive issue in Sri Lanka, where households and businesses continue to grapple with the economic pressures that followed the country's financial crisis. Any prospect of a meaningful tariff reduction is likely to be welcomed by consumers who have faced steep utility costs in recent years.

The ECA's claim raises broader questions about the transparency and accuracy of the tariff-setting process, and whether regulatory bodies are fully protecting the interests of the public they are mandated to serve.

The PUCSL has not yet issued an official response to the allegations made by the Electricity Consumers' Association.