Electricity tariffs lowered

Majority of electricity consumers shall part with less than a shilling lower for every unit of power they consume for the period between October and December this year, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has announced.

This follows reduction in the tariffs by the electricity sub-sector regulator for the 3-months period.

This is the third successive time the tariffs are lowered, relative to the base tariffs of the year set in December last year.

Domestic consumers shall pay sh685.6 which is a sh0.4 less compared to sh686 they paid for in the third quarter (between July and September). However, this is a 1.6% reduction in relation to sh696.9 set as the base tariff.

Commercial consumers shall pay sh619.1, which sh0.8 less than sh619.9 paid for in the third quarter but a 1.6% reduction from sh629 set in the base.

On the other hand, medium industrial consumers shall also pay sh568, which is sh0.8 less than sh568.8 per unit paid in the third quarter. But this is a 1.7% from sh577.8 set in the base.

Large industrial consumers shall be paying sh368.1, which is sh0.9 less than the sh369 paid during the third quarter. But this is 2.2% fall from sh376.3 set in the base period.

While extra-large industries shall pay sh364.6, which is sh1.2 less than sh365.8 paid during the third quarter, but this is also 2.2% reduction from sh372.8 set in the base period.

On the hand, street lighting shall cost sh669.5, which is sh0.5 less than sh670 paid during the third quarter. However, this is 1.5% reduction from sh679.7 set in the base period.

According to an October 7 statement released by ERA, the reduction was on the account of decreased international fuel prices that resulted into proper utilisation of the electricity generation mix and an appreciated shilling against the US dollar.

"The international fuel price decreased from $51.9 per barrel used in the determination of the Base Tariffs to $49.6 per barrel as at the end of August 2017," Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, ERA chief executive officer said in a statement released on Saturday.

"The Uganda Shilling appreciated by 0.82% against the US dollar, from sh3,630.22/USD in the Base Period to sh3,600.38/USD as at the end of August 2017," he explained.