No power increases in Zimbabwe as regulator turns down ZESA’s application for tariff increase

The energy regulator, ZERA (Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority), has rejected an application made by companies under the national power utility ZESA Holdings for a tariff increase.

In January this year Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) a ZESA subsidiary sought a 22% increase in power costs  which would be passed on to ZETDC, another ZESA outfit which handles national distribution.

The increase would have raised the cost of electricity by 49% from 9,86 cents to 14,69 cents per kilowatt hour.

According to ZERA chairperson, Ester Khoza, the regulator decided to retain the current tariff after considering submissions from various consumer groups and stakeholders as well as facts and evidence provided by ZETDC.

ZESA provides the country with power at a subsidised cost and has argued that an increase would put the cost of energy in Zimbabwe at par with other countries in the SADC region like Zambia, Namibia, and South Africa.