Low water levels to signal power cuts?
July 2, 2011 09:31 am
Reports indicate that authorities will have to resort to daily power cuts due to the low levels of water at the hydropower stations in the island.
Reports further indicate that some areas are already experiencing power cuts for a few hours each day although the Power and Energy Ministry stated to Ada Derana that there was no immediate need to take such measures.
However, it also stated that the need for power cuts will arise if the areas around the power stations do not experience showers within the next two months.
Around 48% of the country’s electricity is produced through hydropower while authorities claim that the power generation at the stations is currently as low as 28%.
Minister of Power and Energy, Patali Champika Ranawaka told Ada Derana that there was no immediate need for power cuts but that the public should consume electricity carefully and responsibly.
He added that due to the need of limiting hydropower generation the government has had to focus on thermal power generation which is of much greater cost.
