The Ceylon Electricity Board has submitted another request to the Public Utilities Commission, seeking approval for an increase in electricity prices.
Prof. Manjula Fernando, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, has said that the request will be carefully considered.
Dr. Narendra Silva, General Manager of the Electricity Board, said that due to the inability to generate the anticipated amount of hydropower this year, additional costs were incurred in electricity production. Consequently, the request to the Public Utilities Commission is aimed at covering these additional expenses.
The General Manager further revealed that this year's hydropower capacity was projected to reach 4500 gigawatt hours, but only 3750 gigawatt hours could be generated. Consequently, 750 gigawatt hours had to be sourced from thermal power plants.
The Electricity Board plans to present comprehensive data on this matter to the Public Utilities Commission next Monday.
Rising production costs have led to multiple increases in electricity bills in the past.
