The Public Utilities Commission is set to decide on a proposed 6.8% electricity tariff increase, as the Ceylon Electricity Board warns of unavoidable costs and mounting financial strain.
Sri Lanka’s electricity consumers are bracing for another possible tariff hike as the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announces its final decision on the matter today (14). The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has proposed a 6.8% increase in electricity bills, citing the urgent need to recover rising operational costs.
According to the CEB, the increase is inevitable due to the government’s failure to implement a cost-reflective pricing mechanism. Officials argue that without adjusting tariffs to reflect true costs, the Board will continue to face unsustainable financial losses, threatening the stability of the power sector.
The PUCSL recently conducted a public consultation on this proposed revision, which would mark the third tariff adjustment this year alone. Consumer groups voiced concerns about the growing burden on households and businesses already struggling under economic pressures. At the same time, industry analysts warn that without timely reforms and price adjustments, Sri Lanka risks further power sector instability and reduced investor confidence.
The final announcement today will determine whether households and businesses must prepare for higher bills or whether the regulator will delay the CEB’s request.
