ERB verifying new ZESCO tariffs

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has embarked on a verification exercise to establish whether the new electricity tariffs ZESCO has implemented are in accordance with the board’s approval.

ERB Director Consumer and Public Affairs Agnes Phiri says this follows complaints by consumers that under the new tariffs, the number of units consumers are receiving has drastically reduced compared to what they were entitled to before tariffs were adjusted.

She says the ERB will through its Economic Regulation department examine receipts from a cross section of consumers who submit their receipts to ERB offices in Chinsali, Kitwe, Livingstone and Lusaka.

Ms. Phiri says ZESCO is in the meantime directed to sensitise its customers on the new tariffs and how these will impact their spending patterns.

She states that in arriving at the tariffs adjustment, the Energy Regulation Board was mindful of how an upward adjustment would impact residential, commercial, social services and maximum demand customers given the current challenging economic environment.