ZESA Commended For Increasing Electricity Tariffs

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has been commended for the latest electricity tariff increase.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer, Christopher Mugaga, said the power utility is undercapitalised, hence the tariff had to to go up. He said:

We all know the energy challenges haunting us as the private sector. ZESA is undercapitalised and given this fact, the only way for them to get out of this hole is to charge the right price.

The 19,2 per cent increment is way below the monthly inflation figures. As business, we should be honest with each other and desist from the blame game because consultations or no consultations, the tariffs had to go up. We are always in touch with ZESA and ZERA and we know the prevailing situation in the energy sector.

On Thursday, ZESA Holdings, through its subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) announced a 19 per cent increase for all tariffs from the 1st of March.

Meanwhile, ZESA maintained consumer subsidies, with the larger subsidy being on the first 50 kilowatt hours each month, the cost of which rise from 41c/kWh to 49c/kWh.

The changes also mean that the first 50kWh now cost $24.50 while the next 150kWh rise in price from 91c a unit to $1,08 a unit, giving a total for a month for this band of $162.

More: The Herald