Parliament questions new power tariffs

Parliament has directed the Electricity Regulatory Authority to halt the increment in power tariffs, until the probe into the sector has been finalized.

A parliamentary probe into the energy sector is ongoing, amidst reports of massive corruption.

According to new tariffs that took effect yesterday, domestic power consumers are set to pay shs524.5 per unit compared to the previous shs385.6, while commercial consumers pay shs487.6 up from 358.6 per unit.

The probe committee however established this morning that new tariffs were announced without following proper procedure.

The MPs were told that tariffs are not supposed to be reviewed without the approval of the board of the regulatory authority, which is expected to sit later this month.

The committee chaired by MP Jacob Oboth Oboth says the new tariffs were illegally announced since the minutes effecting them should have been first signed and approved by the board.

Oboth Oboth also told the Regulatory Authority that the energy sector is currently being investigated and no changes should be introduced until the probe has made its recommendations.

The Electricity Regulatory Authority Managing Director Ben Mutambi however told the MPs that there is a 200 billion shillings funding gap, which the new tariffs are supposed to fill.

He says government will have to cough at least 200 billion Shillings if the tariffs are to remain the same.

 Story by Olive Eyotaru

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