The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy
The Minister stated that the CEB assesses supply quality using SAIDI and SAIFI indices rather than only the number and duration of outages, and provided 2023 and 2024 figures for Trincomalee and Kinniya, showing improved interruption duration and frequency in both areas. He explained that outages arise from network failures, weather or accidents, and planned maintenance or construction, with planned outages limited and notified in advance, while alternative supply routes are used to reduce consumer impact in Kinniya. He also said power is not intentionally disconnected during national examinations or special occasions except in emergencies, and confirmed that written billing notes or hang cards will be provided on request where bills are not currently left at premises.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows.
¶ 02 (a) (i) To determine power supply quality, the number of consumers affected and duration alone are not sufficient. The CEB uses SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) and SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index). These are monitored in a timely manner, including for Trincomalee and Kinniya Consumer Service Centre areas. The values are:
¶ 03 - 2023: - Trincomalee SAIDI: 5.62 hours per customer per month; SAIFI: 3.09 - Kinniya SAIDI: 1.81 hours per customer per month; SAIFI: 1.328 - 2024: - Trincomalee SAIDI: 5.36 hours per customer per month; SAIFI: 2.18 - Kinniya SAIDI: 1.34 hours per customer per month; SAIFI: 0.876
¶ 04 Disconnections occur due to: 1. Substation/feeder-level network outages, 2. Breakdowns from adverse weather, accidents, etc., 3. Planned outages for maintenance/new construction (limited to a maximum of two days per month per customer, with notification at least three days in advance).
¶ 05 In Kinniya, in 2023 and 2024, outages were: - 2023: Substation outages 3h 4m; Breakdowns 363h 16m; Planned 478h 26m - 2024: Substation outages 0h 36m; Breakdowns 213h 52m; Planned 264h 19m
¶ 06 During planned outages, alternative supply routes are used to minimize impact on consumers. Therefore, even though breakdowns and planned outages can be lengthy, consumer impact in Kinniya is minimized.
¶ 07 (ii)–(v) As per (a)(i). During national examinations and special occasions, except in emergencies, power is not intentionally disconnected.
¶ 08 (b) (i) Accepted. In some areas, this is not implemented. (ii) On request, a written bill note will be provided, and arrangements are being made to place a billing note (hang card) at the premises for such consumers. (iii) Action as per (b)(ii).
¶ 09 (c) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Wednesday, 22 January 2025 ·No. 1739261035021938 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 22 January 2025. No. 1739261035021938. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/5657