Electricity price raised

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has approved an increase in electricity tariffs to K40.59 from K35.69 per kilowatt effective November 1, Malawi24 has learnt.

This means power prices have been raised by 13.73%.

Reports say that the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has been urging the regulatory body to increase the tariffs on the basis that it has been incurring incessant increasing costs in the exercise of power generation.

According to Dingiswayo Jere, MERA board chair, MERA has been working on the proposal and has since arrived a the decision to place the tariffs at that percentage.

Jere told the media that the move is not worrisome but it means Malawisn will help Escom increase its projects and then produce reliable electricity.

This comes amid ongoing blackouts, something which critics argue fails to vindicate Escom’s claims of high production costs.

At the moment, vocal Consumer Rights campaigner, John Kapito has argued the development is sad saying it is on a service that doe not exist at all.

He wonders why the hike has come about because locals have been paying for electricity yet blackouts are an order of the day.

“Malawians have been hinged already, paying huge tariffs as if the service exists at all. There is no clear justification for the hike and yet the service remains of poor quality” said Kapito.