Energy Board, ERB, incurs govt anger for reportedly not consulting before increasing electricity tariffs

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) did not consult government before approving electricity tariffs and this has not settled well with the State.

This is according to the Chief government Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, at a press briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Mweetwa told the media that the decision by the ERB to announce the increase in electricity tariffs did not sit well with those in central government.

Read more: ZESCO has been granted approval by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to implement the 2024 pre-approved tariffs.

“I would like to indicate that this particular announcement [of a pending increase in electricity tariffs] was not done in consultation with the government.

“No one can pretend in government that the announcement sat well,” he said.

Mweetwa said government’s priority remained to explore all viable options to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for all sectors of society.

“The decision to potentially increase load-shedding hours is not taken lightly and is directly linked to the current challenges the country faces with decreasing water flows in the Zambezi River, particularly at Chavuma,” he added.

On the water levels, Mweetwa said as of May, 6, 2024, the river flows closed at 750 cubic meters per second, significantly lower than the 1,317 cubic meters per second recorded on the same date last year.

He stated that government understood the challenges faced by citizens, including the high cost of fuel and the burden of load-shedding.

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