BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE – Public opinion is fundamental in decision making.
The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) has actualised the above statement by hosting a series of on-going public hearings on Eswatini Electricity Company’s (EEC) proposal on implementing 21.3 per cent hike on tariffs.
The proposal was tabled about three weeks ago, where the public reacted with shock, stating their dissatisfaction.
A E100 electricity voucher for domestic consumers is currently 52 units and if the 21.3 per cent proposed tariff is implemented, a E100 voucher will be 45 units.
ESERA started its public hearings on November 12, 2022 and they will be on-going until December 2, 2022 and businesses and domestic consumers have been incorporated in these talks which have been broadcasted on ESERA’s social media platforms.
Speaking to Letishisako on EBIS1 (Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Service) this morning, ESERA Manager Consumer and Stakeholder Management Teclar Maphosa welcomed the public to partake in the last-bit of the hearings, stating that they were meant for all emaSwati to take part in.
“There is a misconception that we stand for that energy company when in actual fact, we are independent and objective to all views. We have mitigated in requests where the approved tariff was lower than the proposed one,” explained Maphosa.
She said people can also watch the proceedings on their social media platforms.
Public hearings are conducted with stakeholders in order to get feedback on application.
According to Maphosa, ESERA has three months to analyse the application and a decision will be made no later than February 1, 2023.
The 21.3 per cent is an average multi-year tariff proposal to fully cover EEC’s costs for each of the financial years being applied for. It will come into effect in April 2023 if approved by ESERA.
| DATE | AUDIENCE | PLACE | TIME | VENUE |
| 29/11/2022 | Government ministries and business stakeholders | Ezulwini | 9.30am | Ezulwini ESWC HQ Auditorium |
| 30/11/2022 | Business and domestic consumers | Mbabane | 9.30am | ECOT |
| 02/12/2022 | Manzini business and domestic consumers | Manzini | 9.30am | Caritas Centre |
