The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) says the new electricity base tariff which was supposed to be effective from next month will be delayed as some processes are yet to be finalized.
MERA announced that the current electricity base tariff was due to expire on September 30, 2022 to pave way for a tariff on October 1, 2022.
But MERA spokesperson Fitina Khonje said there are seven steps that needs to be undertaken before the board approves or rejects or varies the proposed tariff.
Khonje said the remaining steps include holding public hearing to get views from consumers and properly scrutinise the new tariffs application by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and Power Market Limited (PML).
“We were supposed to have a new electricity base tariff by 1st October, however, it is very important that we get the views of the consumers and scrutinize the application properly because we can’t just rush the process because of targeting the dateline but we have to follow the process as well,” Khonje said.
Meanwhile, the processes that have already been conducted include receipt of application, preliminary review of the application and notify consumers and stakeholders of the application and request their comments.
ESCOM proposed a hike from the current K104 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to K207 per kWh.
The proposed hike is for the four year period starting from October 2022 to October 2026.
