Sri Lanka’s power users to be compensated for damages: PUCSL

Oct 19, 2016 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's electricity consumers will be compensated for the damages to equipment due to abnormal voltages and phase reversals in the distribution systems from 13th January 2017, the power regulator said. The implementation of the regulation will be completed in three stages over three years from the day the regulations come into force. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka announced four newly gazetted regulations in the areas of customer satisfaction in service, quality as well as electrical safety and energy conservation. These regulations, recommended to the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy and gazetted in July 2016, are now in effect. The regulations include, Electricity (Distribution) Performance Standards Regulations; Electricity (Transmission) Performance Standards Regulations; Electricity (Safety, Quality & Continuity) Regulations; and Utility-Driven Demand Side Management (DSM) Regulations. The standards will ensure that the quality of electricity supply is in accordance with the standards specified and guarantee the distribution system is operated safely, efficiently and with a high degree of reliability. It will define a methodology to compensate tariff customers and consumers for under performance by a distribution licensee. It will also specify the customer service standards that require to be maintained by distribution licensees in order to ensure an efficient service for end users. In the case of under performance of the distribution licensee, the consumer will get relief from the next tariff revision of the licensee through a deduction of the approved expenditure for the improvement of electricity quality. Electricity (Transmission) Performance Standards regulations are in connection with bulk sales of electricity, will ensure guaranteed minimum standards of service that the Transmission Licensee shall achieve and maintain in the discharge of its duties while improving the quality, safety and efficient operation with a high degree of reliability of the electricity supply. Electricity (Safety, Quality & Continuity) regulations impose requirements regarding the installation and use of electrical networks and equipment owned or operated by electricity Generation, Distribution and Transmission Licensees, including their sub-contractors and agents, as well as consumers. The said regulations include, amongst others, provisions related to electrical protection and earthing, substations (specifically requirements for enclosures, safety and other signs), underground cables and associated equipment, overhead lines, generation, provision of electricity to consumers’ installations and other networks etc. Demand Side Management (DSM) regulations are seen as one of the key tools to achieve the energy efficiency and energy conservation in the country. Hence, PUCSL is now attempting to revive and strengthen the DSM activities within electricity utilities through notification and implementation of DSM regulations. These regulations are intended to create necessary institutional framework and broad processes, by which many utility-driven demand side management programmes could be designed, implemented and monitored effectively.