Speaking at the event PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake, said, “We have taken the steps to protect the rights of electricity consumers since the inception of the Commission in accordance with the powers vested in it. We have published the Declaration of the Rights and Obligations of Electricity Consumers and many regulatory decisions to protect the rights contained therein and to protect consumers. In particular, more than 20 different regulations, rules and guidelines have been enacted to protect consumers.”

Speaking further he said the payment of interest on electricity consumer deposits is a benefit provided to the consumer under Section 28 of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act. “Accordingly, electricity utility service providers have to pay interest to electricity consumers for the electricity deposit.”

The PUCSL has the authority to decide the interest rate that to be paid to the consumers and the PUCSL declared that the interest rate for this year would be 8.68 per cent, he said adding that the interest rate changes annually.

Accordingly, LECO has commenced paying interest to its customers from yesterday onwards where the interest will be deposited to the electricity bill account of the consumer, the PUCSL chairman said. “LECO alone will pay Rs. 42 million annually to its customers as a benefit through this scheme.”

“We hope that in the future other licensees will implement this interest payment program. When other electricity distribution licensees also implement this interest benefit scheme in the future, around Rs. 1,200 million will flow into the hands of electricity consumers annually.” Rathnayake added.