ELECTRICITY TARIFFS UP

THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company has, with immediate effect, increased electricity tariffs by 12,3 percent to sustain its power generation.

The new prices came into effect yesterday with consumers now expected to pay US$0.10 per kilowatt up from an equivalent of US$0.02 per kilowatt.

In a statement, ZETDC said the new tariffs will go a long way to avert a power crisis in the country.

“The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company wishes to advise its valued clients that the Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has approved a tariff adjustment in order to restore the value of the tariff to a level of USc10, 63/kWh which was approved in 2019.

“This adjustment will go a long way in enabling the utility to carry out its mandate of delivering services to the public.

“The tariff review is with immediate effect from 15 May 2022,” reads the statement.

According to the power utility, local power generation and import costs were pegged between US$0.09 and US$0.11 per kilowatt.

ZETDC said its total power supply currently ranges from 1 240 megawatts to 1 600 megawatts against an average demand forecast of about 1 735 megawatts.

This gives an average power deficit range of 145-500 megawatts depending on imports availability and local generation performance

Recently, ZETDC claimed it was owed close to US$37 million in debts by local firms and is making frantic efforts to recover the debt in order to stay afloat.

Meanwhile, the ZETDC has apologised for power outages that were being experienced in Highfield, Lochinvar, New Ardbennie, parts of Willowvale Industries, including Delta Lagers and Schweppes, due to a fault.