Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said of the total of 5.5 million electricity consumers, electricity supply has been disconnected to 300,000 due to floods in certain parts of the country.
This is entirely due to the flood situation and not because of any issue in the power sector. The biggest power issue is in Matara as the CEB’s substation at Matara was also submerged yesterday morning. There are 136,000 electricity consumers at Matara, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
The Minister said however the electricity was provided to Matara town, hospital and Police Station through an electricity line from Galle while another electricity line was gained from Tangalle to provide electricity to a section of consumers at Matara.
But yet another 50,000 electricity consumers at Matara do not have electricity.
The CEB has a few generators at
Matara which has a total capacity of 8 MW. Therefore, the rest of the electricity consumers will also be provided with power through these generators once the water levels come down.
Meanwhile, another 100,000 electricity consumers at Ratnapura don’t have electricity. Once our power stations are submerged by floods, electricity in those respective areas is disconnected to prevent any danger to the public. Our Kalawana sub station has also been submerged by floods.
We would immediately return the electricity supply to normality once the floods levels come down.
“However, there is no truth in reports that the power supply to non-flooded areas will also be curtailed. We have not taken any such decision,” the Minister said.
The Minister said the CEB would also provide electricity meters free of charge to those whose meters have been destroyed in the floods. The wiring of their houses will also be checked free of charge. Steps have also been taken to provide electricity free of charge to the camps where the people have been temporarily sheltered.
Earlier the total water level of our reservoirs had come down to 27 percent. At present, it has increased up to 33 percent. Some small power stations like Lakshapana and Wimalasurendra have been affected by the floods, he said.