The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is incurring losses running into more than two billion rupees annually due to illegal use of electricity, a senior Board official revealed to the Sunday Times.
This is around five percent of the total losses suffered by the CEB which stands at around Rs. 40 billion, CEB Working Director Roshan Gunawardena said.
The losses are caused by tapping of electricity wires that are not insulated, he added.
The CEB earns an income of Rs. 120 billion but its expenses are around Rs. 160 billion.
Mr. Gunawardena said the revenue that is lost in this manner can be used to service the debts of the CEB and for payment to private companies involved in the production of electricity, as well as to Government institutions.
He gave as an example the debt of Rs.50 billion the CEB owes the Petroleum Corporation.
Mr. Gunewardena stated that to prevent future misuse of the electricity system new measures have been taken such as frequent raiding of houses using electricity illegally and upgrading the distribution system by increasing the number of insulated networks. |
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