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Monday, 10 September 2018 01:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Chathuri Dissanayake
The tussle between the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) over the Long-Term Generation Plan drew to an end this week with the licensee showing readiness to work with the regulator on the next plan but objecting to details in the schedule of activities outlined.
The CEB, upon receiving the letter from the PUCSL indicating the timeline of the schedule of activities for the approval process for the Least Cost Long-Term Generation Plan (LCLTGEP) 2020-2039, wrote to the latter last week saying that the activity “stakeholder consultation on input data and constraints” does not have provisions in the Sri Lanka Electricity Act.
However, the CEB also indicated its willingness to commence other activities in the schedule and attend meetings on the LCLTGEP 2020-2039 upon receiving a revised schedule bringing the drawn out battle between the two entities to a close.
In the letter sent by the CEB General Manager on 4 September, referring to the PUCSL’s letter on the approval process and schedule and “subsequent reminders to attend meetings on the same emphasising the importance of timely completion of the activities identified”, the CEB also agreed that it was important for the two institutions to reach a common agreement on the process followed to develop the long-term generation plan. The CEB also draws upon the tussle the two institutions were engaged in before the PUCSL finally granted approval for the LCLTGEP 2018 -2037 which was only approved earlier this year.
The disagreement between the regulator and the licensee resulted in both President Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe getting involved in the matter. A commission was then appointed by the Prime Minister to study the LCLTGEP submitted by the CEB and make recommendations as the power generator refused to develop a new plan or accept the one approved by the PUCSL after amendments.
