The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has shot down a proposal by Zesa Holdings to increase electricity tariffs by 49 percent, declaring the average power charge should remain at 9,86 cents per kilowatt hour this year.
The regulatory authority said it had considered the performance of the economy as well as efforts being made by Government to improve the ease of doing business in the country.
This brings relief to industrial and domestic consumers who had argued that any hike would increase the cost of producing goods and services.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) had proposed that the average tariff be raised to 14,69 c/kWh.
ZERA board chairperson Dr Ester Khosa said there would be no power tariff increase this year.
“After duly considering the tariff application, the written and oral submissions from various consumer groups and stakeholders as well as facts and evidence provided by ZETDC, the ZERA board on 14 July 2016 made a determination that the current tariff of 9,86c/kWh be retained for the year 2016,” she said.
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Credit: All Africa