ZESCO insists hike in electricity tariffs would be implemented as approved by ERB

ZESCO has denied reports that the approved electricity tariffs by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) had been “frozen.” Instead, it said that the decision remained binding.

This is contained in a customer notice to clarify a report by the Times of Zambia on Wednesday which suggested that the power utility company had frozen the tariffs.

Zambia Monitor had referenced the same report but had rightly interpreted the ZESCO spokesperson as saying that ongoing consultations had delayed implementation of the tariff hikes.

“The tariff adjustment which was announced by the ERB on May 1, 2024, in accordance with the multi-year tariff regime for the period 2023 to 2027, remains binding,” ZESCO said.

However, in correcting the Times of Zambia publication, ZESCO said its spokesperson had “erroneously” conveyed an impression that implementation of the tariff hike had been “frozen”.

“The corporation wishes to emphasise that the authority to adjust electricity tariffs lies solely with the ERB and remains outside of ZESCO’s mandate.

“ZESCO Limited sincerely apologises to the ERB, its customers and all of its stakeholders for the inconvenience this miscommunication has caused,” the notice said.

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