Electricity Consumers’ Association has raised concerns that recent amendments to the Electricity Act could burden consumers with higher tariffs.
Speaking to the media on Friday (29), General Secretary of the Association Sanjeewa Dhammika claimed the changes, designed to benefit contractors, might increase electricity charges by at least 5 cents per unit to cover severance payouts for workers.
Dhammika said the Electricity Board had been split into four companies, with up to Rs. 5 million offered to employees who leave. If 5,000 workers exit, total payouts could reach Rs. 25 billion.
He said that the CEB had recorded over Rs. 5 billion in profits in the last financial period and called on the Public Utilities Commission to ensure severance costs would not be passed on to electricity users.
by Anuradha Hiripitiyage 