- The ERA has reduced electricity tariffs across consumer classes
- The reduction takes effect from July through September
- Uganda shilling appreciates 3.3% against the US dollar
Uganda’s Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has suspended electricity consumer tariffs across all consumer classes. The tariff reduction takes effect from July through September. In a statement issued by the ERA, the Regulator states that the suspension of the tariff was due to the strengthening of the Ugandan Shilling by 3.3% against the US dollars, the fall in fuel prices and the energy generation mix.
Lifeline consumers will now pay Shs250 for the first 15 units and, after that, pay Shs747.5 for the next units purchased, a Shs3.4 reduction from Shs750.9. Likewise, commercial and medium industries will now pay Shs616 and Shs526.9, a reduction from Shs639.8 and Shs556, respectively.
“The commercial consumers and medium industrial consumers are the biggest direct beneficiaries of the reduction in tariffs applicable for the period July to September 2021, with a reduction as much as Shs23.2 per unit and Shs29.1 per unit of electricity consumed for the two consumer categories respectively”, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ERA, Eng Ziria Tibalwa Waako said in a statement.
Explaining the rationale behind the reduction for commercial consumers, Waako stated that the reduction for the commercial and medium industrial users would support the small and medium-sized businesses to recover from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
ERA also clarified that the new power tariffs would apply to all electricity customers of Uganda’s electricity distribution company, UMEME, for electricity purchased from July to September this year.