In the wake of ever increasing electricity bills, a large number of Sri Lankan households desist from using electricity due to economic hardships.

The number of electricity consumers who have a reading of zero on their meters, as a result of apparently not using electricity is increasing rapidly.

According to the Public Utilities Commission, the number of households who have refrained from using electricity and therefore have a zero meter reading after the increase in electricity tariffs has increased from 350,000 households to over 500,000 households.