Domestic consumers bemoan power tariff hikes

Domestic consumers of electricity are expressing their dissatisfaction after the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) increased power tariff recently.

Domestic users will now pay sh696.9 per unit, up from sh623.6 per unit which had been in place since October last year. Before the October change, ERA had reduced the tariff from sh626.0 per unit for domestic consumers.

Moses Musamali, a teacher from Lugazi reasons that these new changes will be yet another strain to Ugandans already struggling with difficult economic times.

"Now this is going to be tougher. Some Ugandans could not pay the tariffs while as low as sh623 and now that the rates have been increased, I am sure there is going to be more power tapping than before. The electricity body must be ready to fight that power tapping cancer too," he reasons.

Some users took their frustration out on Umeme's official social media accounts, after the utility provider informed its customers about the new changes.

"With this tariff, you are making us regret why we bought all the appliances in our houses because we can't even use them anymore. Imagine boiling water on a charcoal stove when you have an electric kettle which is becoming impossible to use on this tariff," Emmanuel Mutumba ranted on Umeme's Facebook page.

Several others on social media expressed their not nice thoughts on the increase of the power tariff by the electricity regulator.

In line with the Electricity (Application for Permits, License and Tariff Review) Regulations, 2007 and the Electricity Act, 1999 (Cap 145 of the Laws of Uganda), ERA reviews electricity tariffs from time to time.