The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has extended the Zesco emergency electricity tariffs for an additional three months, from February 01 to April 30, 2025, claiming that the country has continued to struggle with a severe power crisis.
Announcing the extension, ERB board chairperson, James Banda, said the country’s energy deficit still exceeded 1,000 megawatts, hence the extension, adding that Zesco’s revenue target of US$15 million dollars target per month had not been met as only $10 million was raised in November and December 2024.
In the same speech, Banda said Zesco should adhere to the published load-shedding schedules and update consumers of any changes, including energy saving tips.
To start with, the period covering the first three-month emergency tariff hike, which expired on January 31, 2025, was among the worst periods for the consumers, because many will argue that they literally saw no benefit as the supply remained mediocre. The only numbers which saw a change for the consumers was the escalated cost of purchase for the same electricity, with a reduced number of units than previously enjoyed from the same amount of money spent.
It’s just that we are a country that has become accustomed to rewarding mediocrity, otherwise in a normal society, the earlier emergency hike would have been cancelled mid-way, without the need of a further extension.
For most customers, they have literally forgotten how living in a house connected to the electricity grid feels like, as Zesco has made it a custom to only provide them with electricity from midnight to about 05:00 hours, when millions are deep into their sleep. We wonder if this is the adherence Banda is referring to when he says that the utility company must adhere to its published load shedding schedule.
He has also urged Zesco to update consumers of any changes in the scheduling. Before saying that, the government through Banda should have first inquired from the millions if Zesco even bothers to update them of any changes in scheduling. Many are actually waiting for Zesco to explain to them why they are too unfortunate that the only time they can have electricity is passed midnight to very early in the morning.
Clearly, this tariff hike does not have the interests of the people at heart. Actually, when dealing with such matters, consumers don’t even matter at all, they are the least and last in terms of priority. For example, among the demands placed on Zesco in the tariff hike was that they should provide a minimum 7-hours of electricity to consumers daily to the consumers. But if we ask many out there, is this actually happening right now?
Perhaps, Zesco may argue that they provide electricity from midnight to around 05:00 hours. But does the same add up to seven hours? And is the same provision actually meaningful to the masses? Because what is it that someone is going to do with the electricity provided to them at midnight? Actually, we may just find that the main outcome from the same will be another toll on the resources of both consumers and the government in terms of health challenges, as many people’s sleep is being curtailed daily at midnight to attend to one or two things after supply restoration. We surely can’t allow this status quo to remain as a country.
We hope that for once, Zesco and their tutors in government will find space in their hearts for a little consideration for the suffering masses whose livelihoods have been brutally interrupted from this chaotic supply management during these blackouts schedule. And while at that, we also urge them to redirect the Zambian electricity being boasted of in neighboring countries, perplexed that they have constant uninterrupted supply from Zambia, while the country they are drawing power from is in near constant blackouts. It’s time our leaders took a leaf from United States of America President Donald Trump in terms of prioritising the interests of their countries first.
By Daily Revelation Editor
The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has extended the Zesco emergency electricity tariffs for an additional three months, from February 01 to April 30, 2025, claiming that the country has continued to struggle with a severe power crisis.
Announcing the extension, ERB board chairperson, James Banda, said the country’s energy deficit still exceeded 1,000 megawatts, hence the extension, adding that Zesco’s revenue target of US$15 million dollars target per month had not been met as only $10 million was raised in November and December 2024.
In the same speech, Banda said Zesco should adhere to the published load-shedding schedules and update consumers of any changes, including energy saving tips.
To start with, the period covering the first three-month emergency tariff hike, which expired on January 31, 2025, was among the worst periods for the consumers, because many will argue that they literally saw no benefit as the supply remained mediocre. The only numbers which saw a change for the consumers was the escalated cost of purchase for the same electricity, with a reduced number of units than previously enjoyed from the same amount of money spent.
It’s just that we are a country that has become accustomed to rewarding mediocrity, otherwise in a normal society, the earlier emergency hike would have been cancelled mid-way, without the need of a further extension.
For most customers, they have literally forgotten how living in a house connected to the electricity grid feels like, as Zesco has made it a custom to only provide them with electricity from midnight to about 05:00 hours, when millions are deep into their sleep. We wonder if this is the adherence Banda is referring to when he says that the utility company must adhere to its published load shedding schedule.
He has also urged Zesco to update consumers of any changes in the scheduling. Before saying that, the government through Banda should have first inquired from the millions if Zesco even bothers to update them of any changes in scheduling. Many are actually waiting for Zesco to explain to them why they are too unfortunate that the only time they can have electricity is passed midnight to very early in the morning.
Clearly, this tariff hike does not have the interests of the people at heart. Actually, when dealing with such matters, consumers don’t even matter at all, they are the least and last in terms of priority. For example, among the demands placed on Zesco in the tariff hike was that they should provide a minimum 7-hours of electricity to consumers daily to the consumers. But if we ask many out there, is this actually happening right now?
Perhaps, Zesco may argue that they provide electricity from midnight to around 05:00 hours. But does the same add up to seven hours? And is the same provision actually meaningful to the masses? Because what is it that someone is going to do with the electricity provided to them at midnight? Actually, we may just find that the main outcome from the same will be another toll on the resources of both consumers and the government in terms of health challenges, as many people’s sleep is being curtailed daily at midnight to attend to one or two things after supply restoration. We surely can’t allow this status quo to remain as a country.
We hope that for once, Zesco and their tutors in government will find space in their hearts for a little consideration for the suffering masses whose livelihoods have been brutally interrupted from this chaotic supply management during these blackouts schedule. And while at that, we also urge them to redirect the Zambian electricity being boasted of in neighboring countries, perplexed that they have constant uninterrupted supply from Zambia, while the country they are drawing power from is in near constant blackouts. It’s time our leaders took a leaf from United States of America President Donald Trump in terms of prioritising the interests of their countries first.
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