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Electricity bills: Govt sets ceiling
The Herald (Zimbabwe)
May 13, 2009

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=4354&cat=1

DOMESTIC power consumers should disregard bills they have received from Zesa and pay US$30 and US$40 per month depending on where they live starting February this year until the power utility regularises its billing system, a Cabinet minister has said.

Addressing a Press conference yesterday, Energy and Power Development Minister Elias Mudzuri said Government had made the decision following an outcry from consumers who have received exorbitant bills from Zesa.

"Further to my directive on February 25, instructing Zesa not to disconnect consumers until such a time when the issue of tariffs would have been rationalised, I am further directing that all consumers in the high-density and low-density areas should pay a minimum of US$30 per month and US$40 per month of their bills respectively," he said.

The Government directive means consumers in high-density areas would have to pay US$90 and those in low-density areas US$120 for the three months from February.

Minister Mudzuri also urged consumers to take their meter readings to Zesa as the power utility was currently issuing estimated bills.

Customers should also disregard January bills charged in US dollars as Government only issued a directive to pay in foreign currency starting in February this year, he said.

"On March 15, I announced that consumers should pay at least US7c per kilowatt/hour after Zesa indicated that domestic consumers have an average consumption of 420 kilowatts per month, so the US$30 and US$40 should ensue and customers should disregard the exorbitant tariffs they are being asked to pay," Minister Mudzuri said.

He also ordered Zesa to withdraw bills that had been backdated to January.

"Zesa should charge customers from the month of February 2009 and no bills will be charged for the month of January this year," he said.

Minister Mudzuri said Zesa cashiers should also abide by the directive.

"I have met with the Zesa chief executive and he is aware of the directive, so we expect employees to abide by the directive," he said.

His instruction follows reports in February of Zesa tellers at banking halls turning away customers intending to pay a standard amount of US$10 on the grounds that they had not received communication to that effect from their bosses.

Minister Mudzuri urged consumers to pay the amounts announced.

"The payments will at least ensure that Zesa raises foreign currency towards the importation of power and maintenance of the power infrastructure. It will also ensure that the company continues to operate on a sustainable basis," he said.

The power utility, Minister Mudzuri said, also needed the money to pay for electricity imports currently at 400 to 500 megawatts per month and coal supplies from Hwange Colliery.

He also called on residents to use electricity sparingly as the country as well as the region are facing a generation deficit.

Minister Mudzuri said residents should assist Zesa curb vandalism of electricity infrastructure.

He also gave an assurance that his ministry would try to do all within its means to ensure provision of adequate, reliable and affordable electricity supplies to the nation.

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