Electricity tariff relief: Who’s deceiving whom?

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his May- day speech announced there would not be a single cent increase in electricity charges for households consuming fewer than 60 units and there will be some relief for households consuming between 61 and 180 units.

During his meeting with media chiefs and later at a public meeting before his May-Day speech, the President had justified the massive tariff increase. However, addressing the huge May Day rally, he explained that his decision to offer relief was based on his interactions with the people, who have been highly inconvenienced due to the substantial tariff increase.

He also promised to extend some relief to those who exceed the upper limit in their respective tariff blocks (i.e. 91-96, 121-126 units etc) due to a special event (party) and even offered up to 5 units free of charge for households with children sitting the Ordinary Level or Advanced Level examination. From all these announcements and pronouncements, it appears that the President has understood the severe burden on ordinary consumers due to this tariff increase and is genuinely interested in offering some relief.

I am an ordinary consumer and have four members in the family. I have replaced all incandescent bulbs in my house with high quality energy efficient CFL bulbs. We use only the essential electronic equipment, which includes an iron, a TV, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a rice cooker and a blender. I have strictly followed all energy saving tips published by the Sustainable Energy Authority. With all these energy saving efforts, still we end up consuming around 160-180 units a month. I am comparing below my electricity bill for March, 2013 (units 174) under the tariff structure that prevailed before April, with what was announced in April 2013 and the latest revision based on relief offered by the President’s May-Day speech. (I have not included the three tariff structures in this article, as it is well known to all and published in various print and electronic media).

The comparison shows that ordinary consumers like me will not receive any reduction in their monthly electricity bill in terms of the May-Day relief announced by the President. It was publicised that households consuming between 61 and 180 units will receive a 25 per cent reduction in fuel surcharge. However, the latest tariff structure announced by the Public Utilities Commission maintains the fuel surcharge at 40 percent for households consuming above 90 units.

Thus, it is clear that ordinary consumers with a monthly usage of more than 90 units will not Let’s worship this Vesak day On this thrice blessed day Rejoicing to our hearts content By making our offerings At the lotus feet of Buddha the Great The whiteness of the full moon Against the star- studded vastness The milky ocean upturned In the worship of our Great One Could this be simply ignored? The day you were born The day you became enlightened The day you ceased to be Yes, it’s Vesak again So let us all celebrate Hear the music every where Bells and drums and clarinets share Let us chant the holy word Sadu, sadu, sadu That the deities do care Nature in the best In her flamboyant green vest To celebrate the greatness Wheedling us to join In a jubilant worship of sacredness receive any reduction. I would like to ask the relevant authorities, who is deceiving whom? Are the CEB and the PUCSL trying to deceive us by denying the tariff reduction promised by the President or as many politicians do, is the President promising one thing, but directing the relevant authorities to continue the massive electricity tariff increase using another formula? You taught us greatness You gave us salvation The way to right mindedness To be devoid of evilness Of greed, lust and hatred

Via email Let’s rejoice in one voice Setting aside all harmful vice To avoid being deceived In refraining from the vile Embracing the teaching of our Sage Let’s follow the Noble eightfold path Being mindful of the middle path Only way for self-awakening The panacea for pain and suffering In ending of samsara that’s circling Spare the lives of our animals dear Stop stealing what was not delivered To refrain from unlawful carnal misconduct To shun all forms of deceitful lies And be clear of drunkenness So let us celebrate this blessed day In alms, self-discipline and meditation With the following let us be purified Friendliness, compassion, appreciative joy, equanimity In true search of Nirvana! Centre of English Language and Training

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