President reverses decision to hike electricity tariffs

January 4, 2016 9:00 AM

"The president directed Zesco to revert to the old tariffs until measures are put in place to ensure that poor consumers are protected," presidential spokesman Amos Chanda said.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu speaks before attendees during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, September 29, 2015. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Zambia's president has reversed a sharp increase in electricity tariffs aimed at generating revenue for investment in additional supply, saying the hike had ended up hurting the poor, a presidential spokesman said on Monday.

Zambia's state power utility Zesco Ltd. on Dec 3 increased the average price of electricity to 10.35 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour (KWh) from 6 U.S. cents per KWh.

"The president directed Zesco to revert to the old tariffs until measures are put in place to ensure that poor consumers are protected," presidential spokesman Amos Chanda said.

Mining companies were unaffected by the increase because they have separate bulk power supply agreements with Zesco and power supplier Copperbelt Energy Corp. (CEC).