By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) has officially announced an increase in the prices of sachet water and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) Tariff, effective 1st October 2023.
The increment was a result of consultative meetings late last month that the commission held with the Water Union (local water producers) and a board meeting within the Commission in line with SLEWRC’s Act of 2021 to address the pressing matter of tariff adjustments.
According to SLEWRC, they resolved from the meetings that the factory price per bundle of sachet water should be NLE7, distribution (vehicle sale) - NLE 8, and retail price NLE 9.
The Commission urged sachet water producers to adhere to the prescribed standard prices which have been established with the mutual interest of the industry and consumers in mind.
It noted that non-compliance with the aforementioned standards may result in punitive measures, including fines not less than NLE 50,000 (fifty-thousand New Leones) or imprisonment of up to five years, as stipulated in the 2011 Act of the Commission.
The Communication Officer of SLEWRC, Komba Ngongo in an interview with Politico stated that the new tariff on EDSA is based on average consumption. He said that the previous tariff average consumption was 0.11 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour, noting that the new average consumption per kilowatt hour for the new tariff is 0.21 U.S. cents.
Ngongo affirmed that they will soon initiate rigorous monitoring to ensure that the tariff announced by the Commission is adhered to. He added that they will also put out contacts so that if someone notices any discrepancy with regard to the approved tariff, they can pick that up with EDSA and bring them on board.
SLEWRC aims to regulate the utility service providers in the electricity and water sectors in line with the Commission’s Act of 2011.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (04/10/23)
