Renewable Energy Sector Raises Concerns Over Gazette Affecting Solar Power Industry

A media briefing was held by the Renewable Energy Development Front to inform the public about what it described as measures that could adversely affect the renewable energy and solar power industry.

The organisation raised concerns over a Gazette issued on September 11, 2026, which it claimed would discontinue the Net Accounting and Net Metering schemes.

According to the organisation, these two systems had provided consumers with an opportunity to reduce their electricity bills through solar power generation. It claimed that the proposed Net Plus system would instead limit consumers' ability to offset their electricity consumption directly, resulting in financial disadvantages for solar users.

The organisation gave an example involving an electricity bill of approximately Rs. 57,000, stating that under the existing arrangements consumers could offset a significant portion of their electricity consumption through solar power.

It claimed that under the Net Plus system, a solar consumer would receive approximately Rs. 11,400 for the electricity generated, while the consumer would still have to pay around Rs. 57,200 for the corresponding electricity consumption.

The organisation also raised concerns about fixed charges associated with diesel power plants, claiming that consumers were effectively bearing additional costs as a result.

It further called for greater incentives for small-scale battery storage systems, instead of reducing existing concessions and increasing taxes, which it said could negatively affect the solar power industry.

The Renewable Energy Development Front held the media briefing in Moratuwa on September 27 to express its concerns regarding the proposed changes.

Dr. Ashoka Abeygunawardena, energy expert Arjuna Perera, and several other representatives expressed their views at the media briefing.