On 11 December 2020, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) held the First-Ever Virtual Public Hearing where stakeholders were consulted with respect to Tariff Review Applications for the year 2021.

In the Second Quarter of 2020/2021, the Authority received Applications for review of Tariffs and Budgets for the Year 2021, from Five (5) Licensees, namely: Umeme Limited, Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL), Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL), Eskom (U) Limited and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).

According to the Applications submitted by the Licensees to the Authority, the Licensees requested for review of the Tariffs for the year 2021; to cater for among others; the rehabilitation of the Nalubaale and Kiira Power Plants, Safety of Electricity Consumers, Customer Connections, Information and Communication Technology, Reliability of Power Supply, expansion of and upgrade of the Transmission and Distribution Networks, Monitoring of the Concessions, Reduction in Energy Losses and, Staff Capacity Building.

Eng. Joseph Oteng Otogo, the ERA Board Member who presided over the Public Hearing on behalf of the ERA Board Chairperson, Dr. Sarah Wasagali Kanaabi informed participants that the Public Hearing was conducted to provide Licensees the opportunity to present their Applications to Electricity Consumers, justify the costs in the Applications and for Electricity Consumers to provide views concerning the Applications.

In response to the Applications, Stakeholders raised concerns about the Distribution Licensees Payment Systems noting that the payment systems need to be upgraded to allow Electricity Consumers to be at ease while paying for the electricity services. Stakeholders also raised concerns about the new connection charges.

Eng. Oteng noted that the views from the Electricity Consumers and Licensees expressed during the Hearing would be analyzed by the Authority before deciding on the Base Tariffs for 2021.

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 2021, subject to changes every quarter, depending on movements in the Macro-Economic Factors.

The Public Hearing was held online through the Zoom Platform to ensure compliance with the Guidelines of the Ministry of Health concerning the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It was attended by different stakeholders including the Licensees, Electricity Consumer Advocacy groups, social media influencers, the media among other Electricity Supply Industry Stakeholders.