PUCSL to hold first-ever public hearing on countrywide power paralysis 

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake    

• 20 officials from Power Ministry and CEB will be summoned for the public hearing on 3 March
• The six-hour countrywide blackout on 3 December incurred economic loss over Rs. 1.5 b
• PUCSL Chief Janaka Ratnayake believes public hearing will be a significant milestone for power sector to be accountable and transparent
• Calls on stakeholders and consumers to make written submission to the commission
• Determination of the public will not be limited to findings on socio-economic impacts, but also provide recommendations to avoid future repetitions of similar incidents

By Charumini de Silva

 The electricity regulator, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on 3 March will hold its first ever public hearing on the countrywide blackout occurred on 3 December 2021, which incurred an economic loss of over Rs. 1.5 billion.

The consequences of the said blackout include the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) or the transmission licensee’s inability to serve a total energy demand of 9.65 GWh equivalent to an estimated economic cost of Rs. 1,505 million followed by additional losses due to the six-hour power failure. 

 “This public hearing is the first of its kind happening in Sri Lanka. We hope this will be a significant milestone for the power sector, to be accountable and transparent,” PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake told the Daily FT.

Scheduled to be held on 3 March, around 20 officials from the Power Ministry and the CEB will be summoned to the public hearing at the BMICH.

The PUCSL intends to conduct the public hearing as prescribed under Section 18 read with Section 15 of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 35 of 2002 and according to the procedure approved by the Commission on public hearing.

“We intend to create a more balanced relationship, in which the voices of those most affected by an organisation’s activities are not overshadowed by the interests of the most powerful,” Ratnayake pointed out.

On 3 December last year, a countrywide six-hour power blackout during the daytime dealt a big blow to economic and household activities, as the Government faced severe public and private sector outcry over the failure to prevent it as well as to restore electricity in quick time.

The Government initially attributed the blackout to a ‘failure in the transmission line’, but later the CEB General Manager M.R. Manatunga (in December 2021) said he suspected it was ‘sabotage’ and a proper investigation would be carried out. 

Trade unions however, denied the Government allegation, whilst the Police was also instructed to probe the power failure. The blackout also came amidst a work-to-rule campaign by trade unions though they called it off later in the day.

The PUCSL Chief also called on the stakeholders and general public to make written submissions, if any, on the impacts or any issues or information connected with the blackout which took place, assuring that the Commission will consider such submissions or may summon such parties if necessary, to give oral evidence at the hearing.

The Commission intended to hold its first public hearing on 7 May 2021, in relation to a power failure that occurred on 17 August 2020. However, the PUCSL had to cancel it later, as the Government imposed a countrywide lockdown triggered by the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Ratnayake said the determination of the public will not be limited to findings on socio-economic impacts, but will also provide appropriate recommendations to avoid future repetitions of similar incidents.

Pic by Lasantha Kumara