Abstract:
This paper explores the mediating effect of subjective norms and perceived
behavioral control of consumers on running their generators under the selfgeneration
scheme of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). 300 self-generating
consumers in Colombo and Kalutara districts were investigated by means of
structured questionnaire interviews to ascertain the nature of the issues
prevailing with respect to the different incentive schemes introduced by the
CEB. The data analysis was carried out using the Structural Equations
Modeling technique available in AMOS 25 software package. The findings
show that the bulk supply consumers who possess standby and prime power
generators were found to be not financially strong to fully operate, the existing
equipment too old and having poor performance, lack of fuel storage
capacities at sites, environmental issues, lack of firm power to cover entire
organization with available resources, high cost of generator spare parts,
services and maintenance, lack of trained staff and bad previous experience on
given incentive schemes etc. However, 70% of generator owners stated that
the financial grant offered by the utility is insufficient to run their own
generators whilst 33% of them do not possess the prime power to cater their
total demand 24% of industrial consumers want CEB to hire a generator for
them to operate during power outages considering the poor incentive level. At
the same time, 47% of consumers expected a financial grant or possib e
incentive to be paid in advance in order to relieve them from the additiona
financial burden coming to their core business.
