Electricity prices in Uganda have always been on a bullish gauge all the way from domestic to large industry tariffs. Small scale industries have been in the pipeline of having a subsidized cost for power as compared to their large industry counterparts with the plea well listed by the government. However, there seems to be no hope until the rate of power consumption sits on the right support lines.
Now that Yaka is the modern consumption meter measuring power usage per kilowatt, the rate of electricity consumed by businesses is still on a low level as per reports by the Electricity Regulatory Authority(ERA). For power prices to go a bezel down, the consumption of electricity all over the country has to first rise 2 times from the current rate.
In a phone interview with the Daily Monitor, ERA confirmed that electricity prices can only go down if the consumption rate rises from its current footsteps. For instance, If schools adapt to cooking with electricity and use of high rated electronics, then the prices can go down with a rise in the demand.
It is possible to have the five US cents per kilowatt hour but Ugandans would need to massively consume power-Mr Julius Wandera
Depending on the latest yaka rates that were previously by distribution authority UMEME. Small scale businesses will have to register more electricity consumption in order to increase the demand that will attract a sell limit of 5 US cents per Kilowatt hour approving the more demand for a less cost by ERA.
As much as Large industries are currently paying 5 US Cents per kW during every off-peak hour. The rate is affiliated to the recent debt negotiations for the Bujagali electricity project. Hence, the recent plan by Cabinet to revise the electricity cost per kilowatt for small scale industries in currently on hold until ERA registers the best consumption rates before finalizing on a move to lower the cost of electricity for the first step businesses registered
