BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Government has promised to intervene in the looming electricity tariff hike of 25.51 percent, proposed by Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC).
In a statement issued today (Thursday, November 7, 2024) by Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, the administration promised the intervention because of the concern it has on the proposed hike.
“On that note, Government wishes to assure the nation that we will scrutinise the electricity hike proposal with a view to ensure that the outcome favours Emaswati and that the nation is protected in the process,” Nxumalo said.
Nxumalo, started by mentioning in his statement that Government noted the public concerns regarding the recently approved water tariff increase, as well as the proposed electricity tariff hike by the EEC to Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA). He said Government regarded these concerns as genuine and warranted, as they affected the livelihoods of Emaswati, particularly as the globe continued to grapple with major economic challenges that largely affected developing nations like Eswatini and citizens in particular.
Nxumalo said Government was aware that utility hikes were necessitated by various factors, all aimed at ensuring sustained water and electricity security in the country, and which would benefit Emaswati for future generations to come. Even so, these should align with the prevailing socio-economic status of the country, taking into consideration the buying power of citizens, according to Nxumalo.
In the meantime, Government has urged Emaswati to remain calm and to also participate in the call to make submissions on the matter to ESERA so that their views could be heard and considered. This past Tuesday (November 5, 2024), this publication reported that it is now up to electricity consumers to determine if the proposed electricity tariff increase of 25.51 percent stands or not.
This is because the consumers were invited by ESERA to make their submissions, regarding the proposed electricity hike. ESERA CEO Sikhumbuzo Tsabedze, during a press conference held in Mbabane on the day, stated that they could not allow EEC to go on and apply the proposed hike without hearing from the consumers.
Tsabedze said applied for an electricity tariff increase of 25.51 percent from next year. ESERA is supposed to have made a decision on this regard by February 1, 2025. “They say that for them to be able to operate, they are asking for an amount of E4.2 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. In the following year (2026/27), they are asking for E4.57 billion. This means they are asking for an electricity tariff increase of 25.51 percent for 2025/26 financial year, while they ask for an increase of 27.06 percent for 2026/27 financial year,” Tsabedze said.
The CEO stated that EEC applied for the tariff increase on November 1, 2024. This means that by February 1, 2024, ESERA should give EEC a feedback on what Emaswati would say, regarding the proposal made by the latter. The consultations have already started and would be over by December 14, 2024. Tsabedze implored the consumers to attend these consultations.
