Sri Lanka’s electricity sector regulator, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has asked the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), to submit the investigation report on the recent power outage on or before 12th February 2020.
Sri Lanka faced two to two- and half-hour power cuts on 3rd of February 2020 in many parts of the country, carried out by CEB without the approval of the PUCSL which is an offence under the provision of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No 20 of 2009 (as amended).
Following up on a previous letter to the General Manager of the CEB on Feb 03, the PUCSL asked the state-run power supplier to submit a report on the power outages without prior notice to the public and without obtaining prior approval of the Commission.
The regulator said as per the Power System Report for 3 February 2020 submitted by the Transmission Licensee to the Commission, it is evident that load sheddings had taken place from 10:45 hrs. to 17:02 hrs. on February 03, 2020 in many parts of the island.
“As per section 10 of Condition 30 of the Electricity Transmission and Bulk Supply License (License Number -EL/T/09-002) issued to the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Transmission Licensee is required to obtain prior approval of the Commission for every scheduled interruption of electricity supply other than the interruptions necessary due to maintenance,” the PUCSL pointed out.
“However, the Licensee had failed to obtain the approval of the Commission for such load shedding and thus had violated the said condition of the transmission License that amounts to committing of an offence under the provisions of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No 20 of 2009 (as amended).”
The Commission said it is still waiting for the requested report vide above mentioned letter and informed the CEB to submit the requested report on or before 12th February 2020 to the Commission.
