In a letter addressed to the CEB’s General Manager, the Director General of the PUCSL states that with regard to the increase in demand, the CEB has forecasted demand of 44.70 GWh/day for September 2023 and 42.88 GWh/day on average for Oct-Dec 2023.
“Therefore, assumed demand in your proposal can not be substantiated with latest data.”
Regarding depleted hydropower, the CEB forecasted a starting hydro storage for October 2023 of 503 GWh and for November 2023 635 GWh. As at today hydro storage is 668 GWh, and Inflow for Oct 1 to Oct 12, 2023 is 314 GWh which exceeds the estimates by considerable margin, he emphasized.
The PUCSL further noted that for Oct-Dec 2023, the CEB has forecasted a total coal dispatch of 1,444 GWh in May 15, 2023 submission and 1,334 GWh in Sep 4, 2023 submission.
However, the Commission says it envisages a drop in demand higher than the drop of coal dispatch.
Further coal price has dropped from 68.6 LKR/kg in May 15, 2023 submission to 52.6 LKR/kg in Sep 4, 2023 submission. The impact of coal dispatch reduction cannot be justified with latest data, the letter.
Therefore, the CEB has been informed to submit a revised tariff submission considering the latest available data before October 18, 2023.
