Eswatini power utility EEC seeks 18.38% tariff increase
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Times of Eswatini
The Eswatini Electricity Company is asking the regulator ESERA for an average tariff increase of 18.38% for 2027/28, then 14.68% for 2028/29, seven months after the last increase. According to the regulator, the request is driven mainly by the cost of bulk electricity purchases (61% of required revenue) and 533.1 million emalangeni in past losses to be recovered.
The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), the Eswatini power utility, is asking the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) for an average tariff increase of 18.38% for the 2027/28 financial year, then 14.68% for 2028/29. ESERA’s chief executive officer, Skhumbuzo Tsabedze, presented the application, which comes about seven months after the last increase.
The EEC is requesting revenue of 4.683 billion emalangeni in 2027/28 and 4.939 billion in 2028/29. These increases exclude the 2.5% Electrification Access Fund levy and 15% VAT. According to the company, the application is driven mainly by the cost of bulk electricity purchases, which account for about 61% of required revenue, and by the recovery of 533.1 million emalangeni in past shortfalls.
If approved, the first increase would take effect on 1 April 2027. A consumer who gets about 35 units for 100 emalangeni would receive only about 29, if the increase applies directly to the unit tariff.
In April 2025, the average increase was 8% after the government intervened to reduce its impact. In April 2026, ESERA had initially approved 13.61%. This application follows the IMF’s warning on the cost of an EEC rescue, issued on 7 October.
