Mera announces 10% hike in electricity tariffs

March 29, 2021 Nyasa Times Reporter 22 Comments

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has increased electricity tariff by 10.6 percent effective 30 March 2021, arguing that the upward adjustment was long overdue.

Khonje: confirms power tariff hik

This means that electricity tariff has been adjusted from K94.43 to K104.46 kilowat per hour.

Mera Consumers Affairs and Public Relations Officer Fitina Khonje told journalists that the decision to hike electricity tariff was made during the electricity tariff review meeting held last month.

Khonje also said apart the depreciation of the Malawi Kwacha against major foreign currencies; Mera approved the adjustment to allow ESCOM to carry out its functions effectively.

“The adjustment of the electricity tariff comes about because of two main issues. The first one is that out review of the electricity tariff using the automatic tariff adjustment formula necessitated that the tariff be adjusted upwards by 5.72 percent.

“The formula is applied every month and the aim is to reinstate or restore the value of the tariff that was already agreed on. The second factor is on the based tariff that was agreed to run from 2018 to 2022 and we started implementing in 2018. In 2020, the review showed there should have been an adjustment of tariff based on the based tariff trench,” she explained.

She further argued that at the time, ESCOM was supposed to get 7 percent, but based on its performance it was agreed they only qualified for 1.65 percent.

In the same month, using the formula, ESCOM was supposed to get by 5 percent, but that was not implemented because of other players who came into the market.

“Our concern that time was to first of all address the requirements of the players, assess and see to what extent they impact on the tariff. Unfortunately they have not exerted that much force on the tariff. So, having reviewed the tariff, Mera approved the upward adjustment,” said Khonje.

The last time the electricity tariff was increased was in 2018 by 31.8 percent and was planned to be implemented in tranches from 2018 to 2022.

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22 replies on “Mera announces 10% hike in electricity tariffs”

  1. As long we can rise the allowances for MPs why not also the price for electricity? Please ESCOM make sure that you get your long-term outstanding from all this failing Government departments! Unfortunaly for us ordinary taxpayer’s it is always the same…. It doesn’t matter who creates the big bills, we just have to pay!

  2. Prices are going up on all necessary commodities not only electricity. I don’t understand in which direction Malawi is heading. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer.

  3. KKKK SIZINATI. NDIYE MUONE MOMWE ZINTHU ZIKWELERE KKKK ‘ZASINTHA’ NANGA WATER MUKWEZA LITI? BREAD AFIKA PA MK700.00

  5. BOMA ILOOOOOOOO!!!

    Koma Saulosi Chilima akuona izi? A pumbwa munapha bwino-BWINO NANGA NCHIYANINSO ABALEEEE? ONSE AJA ANKANENA KUTI ZINTHU ZISINTHE AJA PANO AVOMELEZA KUTI ZASINTHADI BUT TO WORSE

  6. This is happening under the leadership of Malawian Magufuli. Kodi tinalakwa chani ife a Malawi? Ndichiyani chomwe Mulungu satikhululukira. Why good people why? This hike is coming at a time fuel had been hiked twice in a space of 4 months. It’s also a time when the cost of living is very high. Folks, the hike of electricity shall result in hike of cost for maize mills which even local people use. The hike of fuel meant that diesel power maize mills became expensive for ordinary Malawians. Kodi munthu wakumudzi athawira kuti? Were things really bad under APM leadership? Are we really going to the promised land? Yesterday it was a day for celebrations for our beloved Flamed qualifying for Afcon…..just to be ruined by these hiking issues. Koma abale tilimba? PAC where r u? HRDC you are busy eating from govt confers. Kodi inu a CAMA muli kuti? Let’s see your venom you used to spit every time APM made a mistake. This leadership is disastrous. I rest my case.

  9. Is this electricity hike also due to electricity hike on international market?m’busa supporters?

  13. MCP is cursed. Palibe ulendo waku Canaan apa. Anthu avutika heavy. Voti kubesa. Bola ku Egypt komwe kuja.

  15. Malawi wa Tonse uja ndiameneyu. First it fuel, now electricity… Brace for hard times ahead!

  19. Nde chitsiru china chiziti uyu nkukhala magufuli. Uyu ndendende Joyce banda now wonder they are partners. Both suffering from azungu andituma syndrome

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