Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
ZESCO Limited appears to have backtracked on the announcement of an average 200 percent increase in electricity tariffs effective 1st October, 2019.
Most reputable broadcast media houses carried the story of the 200 percent tariff increase quoting officials at the power utility who had earlier addressed a media briefing.
During the same briefing, ZESCO acting Managing Director Webster Musonda said the cost for the importation of 300 megawatts of power from South Africa will be passed on to consumers.
Mr Musonda said the power utility will be importing power from Eskom of South Africa at a cost of US$22 million per month.
But ZESCO has now denied that it announced that electricity tariffs will be increased 200% describing such reports as misinformation.
In a statement, ZESCO Director Commercial and Customer Services Chiti Mataka says it is the sole preserve of the Energy Regulation Board to consider any electricity pricing adjustments for regulated entities including ZESCO.
Mr Mataka says with reference to the power importation program, ZESCO has applied to the ERB that an appropriate cost passing-through mechanism be put in place.
He says this mechanism will run over the duration of the importation program only.
However, this is what ZESCO Director Strategy and Corporate Services Patrick Mwila was quoted as saying when he said consumers could on average see an increase of 200% in their electricity bill depending on one’s consumption.