Sri Lanka power regulator refuses to increase power cut time by 1 hour

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s power regulator Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) on Wednesday refused a request to extend daily power cut duration by another hour as the state-run utility provider Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) failed to justify the request.

The CEB has maintained power cut at 1 hour and 20 minutes in the last few days, but had requested to increase that duration by another hour to 2 hour and 20 minutes, the PUCSL said.

“PUCSL declined to approve CEB request for longer power cuts (2 hours & 20 minutes  starting from tomorrow as CEB has not justified extension of power cut with proper reasons . Hence approval given only to continue prevailing schedule of 1 hour and 20 minute power cut,” PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said in a statement.

All groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W will experience a 1 hour and 20-minute power cut between 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

Sri Lanka has been able to curtail power cut duration due to the availability of hydro power after months of daily outages that would go on for hours, but power outages have returned to some areas.

Coal still plays a major role in the island’s power generation and power industry sources say the government’s failure to ensure timely coal purchase could compel the government to increase the power cut duration in the future.

Related; Longer power cuts likely in Sri Lanka if coal shipment not secured: union

Ratnayake warned that current stocks were only sufficient till the end of October, and failure to procure enough coal would lead to long power cuts again. (Colombo/Sept21/2022)