Sri Lanka to sharply raise electricity rates
Friday, 14 March 2008
COLOMBO, March, 13 (AFP): Sri Lanka, one of Asia's most expensive places for electricity, will further increase tariffs by more than 30 per cent from Sunday, the state-run power utility said.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) proposed the increase to head off a projected 400-million-dollar loss this year, officials said today.
"Electricity tariffs will go up between 20 per cent to 25 per cent," said CEB general manager Ranjith Pulleperuma, adding that a further 30 per cent will be added to bills as a "fuel surcharge."
Average households pay 22 rupees (20 cents) for a kilowatt of electricity at current rates.
The CEB had earlier planned to raise tariffs by 136 per cent to cope with global fuel prices, but backed down amid widespread protests.
About 60 per cent of Sri Lanka's electricity is generated by using imported diesel. The remainder comes from hydroelectric power.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) proposed the increase to head off a projected 400-million-dollar loss this year, officials said today.
"Electricity tariffs will go up between 20 per cent to 25 per cent," said CEB general manager Ranjith Pulleperuma, adding that a further 30 per cent will be added to bills as a "fuel surcharge."
Average households pay 22 rupees (20 cents) for a kilowatt of electricity at current rates.
The CEB had earlier planned to raise tariffs by 136 per cent to cope with global fuel prices, but backed down amid widespread protests.
About 60 per cent of Sri Lanka's electricity is generated by using imported diesel. The remainder comes from hydroelectric power.