Gazette Notification to Protect Electricity Consumers

In a press conference held at the  Department of information yesterday, Chairman of Public Utility Commission  Thamitha Kumarasinghe  announced various protection of consumers along with compensation scheme as from 13^th January 2017 . Compensation will be paid to electricity consumers, whose electrical installation and electrical items  are damaged due to voltage changes or current leak. These recommendations  had  been made to  the Minister of Energy by the Public Utility Commission  . The Gazette notification is issued in consultation  with the  Minister of Power and energy . Four main regulations given  priority in  the Gazette notification are :

1. Satisfaction of the consumers.

2. Electricity standard should be maintained.

3. Observing standard in supplying Electricity

4. Safety in supplying electricity and in Management

According to  this regulation, if electricity supply is delayed  from the date under taken by the supplier ,  Rs 200 per day has to be paid  to the consumer. If the supplier  fails  to check current supply or  leakage in time , compensation of Rs 500 – Rs 5000 to be paid to the consumer. Further, if the electricity meter reading  is not taken on  a specified  date,  compensation of  Rs  500 – 5000  per day will be paid to the consumer. Likewise so many compensations  for services delayed are included in the gazette. Negotiations are being held to implement this scheme completely.  For that it will take 2 to 3 years. However,  compensation for damages caused to electrical installations  and electrical items due to voltage change and electricity leak s will be implemented from next year.