Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday said that a new method of paying 25 percent of the total amount spent for a new electricity connection and paying the remaining amount in installments will be introduced. He said that the approval of the board of directors has been received for this and that the official notification regarding this programme will be given in the next two weeks.
“It is also hoped to introduce a prepaid card to make it easier for people in rural areas to pay electricity bills,” he said. He was replying to an oral question raised by MP W.H.M. Dharmasena regarding disconnection of electricity supply of consumers.
He said they have given instructions to pay more attention to rural and low income families and plantation areas before disconnecting electricity supply.
“There are electricity consumers who have been paying their bills properly for a long time. If their electricity bill has been delayed due to some specific reason in the past, they have been advised to give them a grace period. Necessary instructions have been given to the regional offices of the Electricity Board in this regard.
Commenting on the payment of electricity bills through SMS, the minister said that it is necessary to make this digital transformation for the people. But in some identified rural areas, the bill paper system will continue to operate and all electricity consumers should adapt to this in the future. It is hoped to introduce a prepaid card for electricity consumers in the future, he said.
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