Study reveals impact of load shedding on small enterprises

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) says small and medium sized enterprises were the most adversely affected sector by unprecedented load shedding that the country has recently experienced.

According to a study conducted by the ERB, the persistent hours of load shedding experienced in 2015 affected business operations especially those that could not afford to purchase generators, solar panels and inverters.

ERB Director Consumer and Public Affairs Agness Phiri says the study was conducted in Lusaka, Livingstone, Kitwe and Ndola in collaboration with the Central Statistics Office to establish the impact of load shedding on the various economic and social sectors and ultimately inform the regulatory interventions to be taken.

Mrs Phiri adds that comprehensive findings of the study conducted between September and October 2016 are expected to be disseminated later this year.

She says the findings of the study will provide detailed information on the cost impact of load shedding for small scale enterprises in the various economic sectors and loss in production due to load shedding applied in 2015, and different coping strategies put in place by enterprises to tackle reduced electricity load shedding.