Friday, November 28, 2025

Power outages : CEB urges public to report via mobile app

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is actively encouraging the public to utilize its mobile application for reporting power outages as the country faces widespread electricity disruptions caused by severe weather conditions. With power restoration efforts currently underway across Sri Lanka, the state utility provider emphasizes the importance of digital reporting to streamline response operations and improve service delivery during this challenging period.

Weather-Related Power Disruptions Across Sri Lanka

Inclement weather conditions have triggered significant power outages throughout the island, affecting thousands of households and businesses. The Ceylon Electricity Board has confirmed that restoration work is progressing systematically across affected regions, with technical teams deployed to address infrastructure damage caused by adverse weather patterns.

The current power crisis highlights the vulnerability of Sri Lanka's electrical grid to weather-related incidents, including strong winds, heavy rainfall, and lightning strikes that can damage transmission lines, transformers, and distribution networks. These natural phenomena often result in cascading effects that impact multiple areas simultaneously, requiring coordinated restoration efforts.

CEB Mobile App: Digital Solution for Outage Reporting

The Ceylon Electricity Board's mobile application represents a modern approach to customer service and emergency response management. By encouraging users to report outages through the digital platform, CEB aims to collect real-time data about affected areas, enabling more efficient resource allocation and faster response times.

The mobile app provides several advantages over traditional reporting methods, including GPS-enabled location tracking, photographic evidence submission, and instant notification capabilities. These features allow CEB technical teams to better understand the scope and nature of outages, prioritizing repairs based on severity and affected population density.

Citizens can download the official CEB mobile application from their respective app stores and create accounts to access reporting features. The user-friendly interface allows customers to submit outage reports with minimal technical knowledge, making it accessible to a broad demographic across Sri Lanka.

Benefits of Digital Outage Reporting System

The implementation of mobile-based outage reporting offers numerous benefits for both consumers and the Ceylon Electricity Board. For customers, the system provides transparency regarding restoration timelines and updates on repair progress. Users can track the status of their reported outages and receive notifications when power restoration is expected in their area.

From CEB's perspective, the digital reporting system creates a comprehensive database of outage patterns, helping identify recurring problem areas and infrastructure weaknesses. This data-driven approach enables better preventive maintenance planning and strategic infrastructure investments to improve grid resilience.

The mobile app also reduces the burden on CEB's telephone-based customer service centers, which often become overwhelmed during widespread outages. By distributing reporting across digital channels, the utility can maintain better communication with affected customers while allocating human resources to critical restoration activities.

Current Restoration Efforts and Timeline

Ceylon Electricity Board technical teams are working around the clock to restore power supply to affected regions. The restoration process involves systematic assessment of damaged infrastructure, prioritization based on critical facilities such as hospitals and schools, and coordinated repair operations across multiple locations.

Weather conditions continue to play a crucial role in restoration timelines, as ongoing inclement weather may hamper repair work and pose safety risks to technical personnel. CEB emphasizes that restoration efforts will proceed as quickly as possible while maintaining safety protocols for field workers.

The utility provider has established emergency response protocols that prioritize essential services, including healthcare facilities, water treatment plants, and telecommunications infrastructure. Residential areas are restored based on the number of affected customers and accessibility of repair locations.

Public Cooperation and Safety Measures

The Ceylon Electricity Board urges public cooperation during the restoration period, emphasizing the importance of staying away from damaged electrical infrastructure and reporting hazardous conditions through the mobile app. Citizens should avoid attempting repairs on electrical equipment and maintain safe distances from fallen power lines.

During power outages, residents are advised to use alternative lighting sources safely, avoid overloading generators, and conserve battery power for emergency communications. The CEB mobile app serves as a vital communication tool during these situations, providing updates and safety information to affected communities.

As Sri Lanka continues to face weather-related challenges, the integration of digital reporting systems represents a significant step forward in modernizing utility services. The success of the mobile app initiative could pave the way for additional digital innovations in the country's infrastructure management sector, ultimately improving service reliability and customer satisfaction across the electrical grid network.