By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
On the reviewing process of EDSA’s proposal for an adjustment otherwise increment of electricity bill, the Director of Economic Regulations in the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, Brima Bah has on Wednesday 6th September 2023 in an interview promised EDSA consumers an affordable electricity
It could be recalled that few weeks ago the Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency (EDSA) tendered a proposal which geared towards increasing the tariff from 11 cents to 23 cents. This decision ignited serious concerns from EDSA consumers amidst the challenging economic situation.
The commissioner confirmed that they are fully aware and received the letter of application to the commission by EDSA, indicating that they want increase the tariff, the process is in place and all data have been collected from them to make sure that we crunch the numbers and make sure that the data corroborate to what is being demanded by them.
He added, “these application have been understood by us and they have been put out to the public through gazettes, now we are inviting the public to send their comments in about two weeks’ time to express their opinions about the tariff and they should to either 55 Berwick street, through text. Our portal etc.”
He maintains that engagement will be a vital key that the commission will work with to ensure a public hearing and serve as the final stage before making a decision and this will occur on the 22nd of this month at the Freetown City Council hall. Major stakeholders and also the public will be invited to listen to EDSA, so that they will justify their reason for their demand to increase electricity tariff, these are all the process we are set to work on in a nut shell. Mr. Brima Bah affirmed.
Commissioner Brima Bah went further by mentioning the different categories of tariff by stating categorically that a lot of people don’t understand how the categories of united is being allocated to every consumer that purchases unit from EDSA. “there are different level of tariff charges that apply to consumers whenever they purchase units, EDSA carry a percentage of their service charges and also the GST cut then finally what will remain is what has been deducted from the whole unit being bought, so if you purchase in that same month for the second time then the tariff will increase”. So EDSA do not really steal the top up of customers but necessarily take a cut of their charges and expenses.
Following, the proposal from EDSA they are asking for an increment of 23 percent because they think that the 11 percent tariff is not reflective or enough for them to cover their energy facilities, to pay their staffs and to maintain the distribution network, this tariff as proposed by EDSA is a tariff which doesn’t have any subsidy because they want to operate and merely not depending on government. Mr. Bah Intimated.
The commissioner Brima Bah concluded that their response will be to start with the fifty Million subsidies which government have allocated to them so that the public and the final consumer won’t be affected strongly by this proposal from EDSA, because the proposal from them is just to ensure their operation. He furthered that they are in the process to make recommendations to ensure that they take the necessary actions so that this proposed tariff won’t affect the public but to also ensure that the demands of EDSA as an institution will be in place to ensure effective service delivery to the public.
