By Alois Vinga

ZIMBABWE Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) will from Sunday increase it power tariff’s by 19.2% in line with economic adjustments which have seen exchange rates and inflationary changes.

The new set of tariffs come into effect against a background of slight improvements in power supplies.

According to a notice released Thursday, the latest hikes were granted last October 2 2019 and give ZESA the permission by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to operationalise the monthly tariff indexation formula.

The formula takes into account shifts in internal economic environment like exchange rates and inflation for changes above 10%.

“As a result, the first 50 units of electricity for the month, which used to cost $20.50 will now cost $24.50 while the 200 units of electricity, which were being sold for $157, will now cost $186.50,” the ZESA notice reads.

“After 200 units have been consumed, all other units will now go for a punitive$4.61 per kilowatt hour (kWh) as opposed to $3.87 per kWh charged before.”

The new tariffs will see the first 50 units increase from 41 cents per kWh to 49 cents per kWh while the 150 units, which used to cost $136,50 will increase to $162.