On 14^th December 2018, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) held a Public Hearing in respect to Tariff Review Applications for the year 2019.

In the months of October, November, and December 2018, ERA received Applications for Tariffs and Budget for the Year 2019, from Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL), Eskom (U) Ltd, Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL), Umeme Limited and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).

According to the Applications, the Licensees requested for a review of the Tariffs to cater for the implementation of the Electricity Connection Policy, growing of electricity demand through Industrialization, making more investments into the Distribution Network for improvements in System Reliability, construction of new transmission lines and associated substations, and replacement of transformers, among other needs of the Electricity Supply Industry.

The ERA Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, who presided over the Public Hearing informed participants that ERA had provided an opportunity for electricity consumers who had not been consulted in small groups to participate in the process and provide their views. She noted that the views from stakeholders and Licensees would be scrutinized by the Authority before arriving at a decision on the Base Tariffs for 2019.

The Public Hearing preceded the determination of the End-User Base Tariffs to be charged to the different categories of electricity consumers served by Umeme Limited in 2019, subject to changes on a quarterly basis, depending on movements in the macro-economic factors.

The Public Hearing marked the end of the formal consultations on the Base Tariffs for the year 2019. It was held at the Imperial Royale Hotel Kampala and was attended by different stakeholders, including electricity consumers, advocacy groups, the media and the general public.