Electricity Tariffs Reduced: PUCSL Announces New Rates for All Sectors

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has announced a significant reduction in electricity tariffs, with the new rates set to take effect from midnight on 17 January. The reduction, averaging 20% overall, will benefit both domestic and commercial electricity consumers. 

For domestic consumers, the reductions vary based on monthly electricity usage. Households consuming up to 30 units of electricity will see a reduction of 29%, while those consuming between 31 and 60 units will benefit from a 28% decrease. For those using between 61 and 90 units, the reduction is 19%, and households consuming between 91 and 180 units will receive an 18% reduction. Consumers using more than 180 units will see their electricity bills decrease by 19%. 

Other sectors will also benefit significantly from these changes. Hotels will receive a 31% tariff reduction, while the industrial sector will benefit from a 30% decrease. Religious institutions will see a 21% reduction in their electricity bills, while the public sector’s tariffs will drop by 12%. Streetlights will also be charged 11% less. 

For a clearer understanding, here are some examples of how domestic bills will change. Households consuming 30 units previously paid Rs. 280.00 but will now pay Rs. 195.00, a 30.4% reduction. Those using 60 units will see their bill drop from Rs. 700.00 to Rs. 500.00, reflecting a 28.6% decrease. Bills for 90 units of electricity will reduce from Rs. 1,840.00 to Rs. 1,480.00, a saving of 19.6%. 

Higher consumption levels also see considerable reductions. For 120 units, the bill will drop from Rs. 3,340.00 to Rs. 2,680.00, a reduction of 19.7%. Consumers using 150 units will see their bills decrease by 23.6%, from Rs. 5,460.00 to Rs. 4,170.00. For 180 units, the bill will go down from Rs. 6,720.00 to Rs. 5,160.00, a 23.2% reduction. 

For even higher consumption levels, those using 210 units will see their bills drop from Rs. 8,720.00 to Rs. 7,060.00, a 19% reduction. Households consuming 240 units will experience an 18.7% decrease, with their bills reducing from Rs. 10,760.00 to Rs. 8,740.00. For 270 units, the bill will fall from Rs. 12,710.00 to Rs. 10,320.00, saving 18.8%. Finally, for 300 units, the bill will reduce from Rs. 14,660.00 to Rs. 11,900.00, also reflecting an 18.8% decrease. 

Jayanath Herath, PUCSL’s Director of Communications, stated that the tariff revisions were made after reviewing cost data from the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), proposals by the PUCSL, and public feedback. These changes will be in effect for the first six months of 2025, with the possibility of further reviews in the future.