Smarter lighting: Time of Use tariff for domestic users

• PUCSL approves optional TOU tariff
• Households can request for service immediately from CEB and LECO
• Move aims to reduce power usage during peak hours
• TOU tariff based on three time blocks; off-peak, day and peak

The Public Utilities Commi-ssion of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved the time of use (TOU) tariff proposal submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

Issuing a statement the PUCSL said that this has been designed as an optional tariff for domestic users that consume a three-phase, 30A or above power supply.

The Commission said that the TOU would be implemented with immediate effect and any domestic consumer interested in this can request this fromthe service providers;CEB and Lanka Electricity Company Ltd. (LECO).

By implementing this TOU tariff, PUCSLaims to reduce power usage during the peak hours and promote power usage during the off-peak hours.

“This basically targets to encourage the use of electricity during off-peak hours for the purposes such as charging electric vehicles,” the statement said. According to TOU tariff, there are three separate time blocks namely off-peak (between 22:30-5:30), day (5:30-18:30) and peak (18:30-22:30) which are separately metered and billed.

During the off peak hours only Rs. 13 would be charged per unit (kWh), which is a reasonable amount for the electric vehicle charging purposes. The tariffper unit during peak hour would be Rs. 54,while during day it would be charged Rs. 25 per unit.

AsTOU tariff is based on three time blocks unlike the existing domestic tariff,users can rationally decideprioritisingtheir electricity demand for time blocks which offer lower rates. Thus, TOU tariff has been identified as beneficial for the domestic users.

PUCSL said that those who wish to upgrade their customer category from the existing domestic category to TOU tariff should apply it from the regional area engineer’s office of their service provider (CEB or LECO). Such customers should pay for the new meter, which is required to support the TOU Tariff.

Time of use    Energy charge (LKR/kWh)    Fixed charge (LKR/month)

Off-peak (2230-0530 hrs)    13.00    540.00

Day (0530-1830 hrs)           25.00    

Peak (1830-2230 hrs)          54.00