Plans to avert an impending power crisis have been thrown in doubt after the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) this week objected to the country’s Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP) approved by the nation’s power sector Regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). The war of words between the PUCSL and [...]

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CEB, PUCSL wires cross over long term power generation

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Plans to avert an impending power crisis have been thrown in doubt after the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) this week objected to the country’s Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP) approved by the nation’s power sector Regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).

The war of words between the PUCSL and the CEB comes at a particularly difficult time for the country’s power sector, with at least 300 Mega Watts (MW) of additional power needed for the national grid next year, according to PUCSL estimates. The Regulator has insisted on the speedy implementation of its approved plan, to avoid significant electricity shortfalls.

In the CEB’s official response to the PUCSL’s approved LCLTGEP 2018-2037, General Manager A.K. Samarasinghe on Tuesday (25) accused the PUCSL of exceeding the powers vested in it, under the Sri Lanka Electricity Act (SLEA), and of violating the Regulator’s own planning code.

The PUCSL last week approved the plan sans any coal power plants, and with emphasis on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and renewable energy plants. The CEB, by contrast, had recommended its base case plan which included six coal power plants, to be built in the next 20 years.

The CEB’s letter, sent in response to the PUCSL decision, seen by the Sunday Times, objects to the PUCSL’s decision, alleging that, what has been approved was not the plan submitted by the CEB.

The CEB insists that, under the SLEA, the PUCSL cannot amend the LCLTGEP, except on the basis of submissions made by generation or distribution licensees. It further points out that, the PUCSL’s own Least Cost Generation Expansion Planning Code notes that, what the PUCSL’s role was to “review the plan for compliance to guidelines provided therein” and to “request for clarifications and amendments.”
With the CEB’s insistence it cannot accept the PUCSL’s decision on these grounds, the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy has now stepped in to mediate. Ministry Secretary Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda told the Sunday Times he aims to arrange a meeting between the CEB and the PUCSL officials next week, in an attempt to resolve their issues.

Meanwhile, the CEB Engineers’ Union has written to Minister of Power and Energy, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, urging him to intervene and get the CEB’s long term generation plan approved. The CEBEU has warned it would have no option but initiate trade union action, if there was no such intervention.

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