The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) is set to announce its final decision on the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) proposed electricity tariff revision on 6 June, following a series of public consultations across the country.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, PUCSL Director of Communications Jayanat Herat confirmed that four provincial-level sessions have been held to date — in the Sabaragamuwa, Northern, Uva, and Southern Provinces — as part of the public feedback process, which began on 23 May. Additional sessions are scheduled over the coming days in other provinces.
“Once all consultations are completed, we will evaluate the feedback and analyze the data using our approved methodology,” Herat said. “The final decision on the tariff revision will be announced on 6 June.”
CEB Seeks 18.3% Tariff Hike Amid Financial Strain
The CEB has submitted a request for an 18.3% increase in electricity tariffs for the period from June to December 2025. The utility claims the revision is critical to managing its financial burdens — including “legacy debt” accumulated through past borrowing — and maintaining operational sustainability.
Despite the proposed hike, the CEB noted that the revised rates would still be 5.4% lower than those at the beginning of the year, following a 20% tariff reduction in January that brought the average cost to approximately Rs. 24 per kilowatt-hour.
CEB Spokesperson Engineer Dhammike Wimalaratne said the utility absorbed rising costs from 2014 to 2022, including increases in fuel prices, spare parts, and maintenance expenses, without adjusting consumer tariffs. This led to reliance on loans and payment deferrals, contributing to the utility’s debt issues.
Consumers Push Back Citing Record Profits
However, the proposal has faced opposition from consumer advocacy groups. Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika argued that a price increase is unjustified in light of the CEB’s recent profits — Rs. 57 billion in 2023 and a record-breaking Rs. 144 billion in 2024.
“Given the profitability, there is room to reduce tariffs by at least 20%, not increase them,” Dhammika stated.
The PUCSL’s upcoming decision is expected to weigh heavily on the outcome of these public consultations, balancing the CEB’s financial demands with consumer concerns.