Conserve electricity to avoid power cuts

Thursday, 9 February 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Power and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister yesterday made a passionate appeal to the public to consume electricity sparingly if they wanted to enjoy an uninterrupted power supply as severe drought conditions continue to prevail in the country.

“People in the Western Province who consume 60% of electricity don’t even remember that the country is facing a severe drought. The Western, Southern and Wayamba provinces should be careful with consumption. They are the ones that consume the most electricity,” Deputy Minister Ajith Perera said while speaking at the weekly Cabinet press briefing.

The Minister highlighted that the water level of hydropower plants was only at 44% capacity, stressing the need for conserving electricity. Perera warned that if the Government was pushed to impose power cuts, even the economy would suffer a severe blow.

The Government is to also kick off a new program to set up solar power plants to generate 1 MW in a bid to address the looming power crisis, Perera said.