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MBABANE - Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) will today hold the second tariff decision consumer feedback session.

The meeting will be held at The George Hotel, starting at 9am. ESERA Manager Consumer and Stakeholder Management Teclar Maphosa said the purpose of the meeting was to enlighten electricity consumers on what influenced the electricity tariff increase, which became effective on April 1, 2023.

She urged consumers to attend the important meeting without fail ‘because it is where they will understand and appreciate how the tariff review decision was reached’.

Maphosa said the feedback sessions were a culmination of public hearings, which were held in November and December last year in all the regions of the kingdom.

She noted that consumers made submissions and expressed opinions during these hearings, after which, the regulator promised to bring feedback. “That is why we are presenting feedback to consumers. It is important that the regulator informs electricity customers on its decision in the most transparent manner possible,” said Maphosa.

ESERA is expected to make a presentation during the meeting, which would be followed by a question and answer session. The first session was held on Friday, March 24, 2023 at Phumlamcashi Community Training Centre, Siphofaneni.

Website

Meanwhile, Maphosa encouraged consumers to read the detailed documents uploaded on the regulator’s website www.esera.org.sz, to understand the tariff review process and decision.

The documents are the Tariff Order, Electricity Tariff Review Public Hearings 2022 (comprehensive report) and Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) Tariff Review Application. After all due processes, ESERA awarded an average tariff adjustment of 10.14 per cent for 2023/24 financial year and 8.02 per cent for 2024/25.

EEC had applied for a 21.31 per cent increase for each of the two financial years.

ESERA was established with the primary and core responsibilities to exercise control over the electricity supply industry and ensuring the security of supply of electricity through the issuance of licences and the regulation of electricity tariffs and quality of supply and services.