Higher tariffs will result in stealing more power
Dec 27, 2010
EDITOR: This is in response to your article, "Government refuses to raise power tariffs" published last week. This is expected, especially at this time.
EDITOR: This is in response to your article, "Government refuses to raise power tariffs" published last week. This is expected, especially at this time.
It is not the first time Umeme is trying to hike their already high tariffs and their problems have not gone away. It implies that hiking tariffs is not a solution. I believe it is part of the problem.
The more Umeme hikes the tariffs, the more consumers will bypass the power meters.
As long as Umeme does not arrest the increasingly poor customer service, hiking tariffs will be like writing on water! Think about this scenario.
I run a barber shop in Lweza. Umeme power is available less than 50% of the time because of faults (not load-shedding). I am compelled to supplement this with a generator.
My costs are going up but I cannot increase my charges because clients will run away. I cannot escape fuel costs either. How do I cut my costs? Your guess is as good as mine.
Freddie Itaza
freddie.itaza@gmail.com
It is not the first time Umeme is trying to hike their already high tariffs and their problems have not gone away. It implies that hiking tariffs is not a solution. I believe it is part of the problem.
The more Umeme hikes the tariffs, the more consumers will bypass the power meters.
As long as Umeme does not arrest the increasingly poor customer service, hiking tariffs will be like writing on water! Think about this scenario.
I run a barber shop in Lweza. Umeme power is available less than 50% of the time because of faults (not load-shedding). I am compelled to supplement this with a generator.
My costs are going up but I cannot increase my charges because clients will run away. I cannot escape fuel costs either. How do I cut my costs? Your guess is as good as mine.
Freddie Itaza
freddie.itaza@gmail.com