By: Ilyasa Baa
The Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) tariffs will increase considerably as the Authority has applied to the Energy and Water Regulation Commission for the increment to take effect.
Trying to justify the increment, the Public Relations Officer of EDSA, Sahr Nepor said they are running at a loss noting that they are buying twenty-two cent from the Karpowership and selling at eleven cent to customers.
Nepor described the current situation as bad business on the side of government. He added that the depreciation of the Leones by 35% against the Dollar is another factor responsible for them to ask for little increment so the supply of electricity will be reliable and sustainable. He said they have been going through quit a lot of technical and commercial loses since the announcement of the shutting down of Bumbuna for routine maintenance.
According to Nepor, Sierra Leone has one of the cheapest electricity in the sub-region assuring that within the shortest possible time, consumers will start enjoying full fledge electricity. He said with the current tariffs, it will be difficult for EDSA to break through. He prevailed on the public to exercise patience as they are applying load-shedding to ensure more customers to enjoy light. He maintained that quality supply of electricity aligns with cost, adding that the last time an increment was placed was in December 2019.
It could be recalled the government of Sierra Leone set up the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission through an Act of Parliament with the mandate of decreasing and increasing energy tariffs. The Commission was established to formulate, implement, and monitor quality and compliance. Provide tariff guidelines, licenses and implement regulatory frameworks for the safe, secure, affordable and reliable supply of water and electricity in Sierra Leone.
Residents of Freetown have expressed the need for reliable and sustainable electricity. They are calling on the government to expedite the Bumbuna Hydro project so that electricity distribution and supply will increase for the benefit of customers.
However, residents of Deep Eye Water in the Western Rural District are calling on EDSA to extend their power supply to them.
Ibrahim Barrie told this medium that their area has gone without electricity for long time. He said the area has developed rapidly and that there is no reason why they should not enjoy what they are paying for.
