On 5th January 2024, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) announced the Electricity End-User Tariffs to be charged by Umeme Limited for the supply of Electrical Energy in the First Quarter (January to March) of 2024. The announcement was made by the ERA Chairperson, Dr. Sarah Wasagali Kanaabi at a Media Briefing officiated by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu at the Uganda Media Center.

The Tariff schedule for the First Quarter of 2024 indicates a reduction in Tariffs for Domestic Consumers from UGX 805.0 to UGX 797.3, from UGX 611.8 to UGX 600.6 for Commercial Consumers, from UGX 461.8 to UGX 448.7 for Medium Industrial Consumers, from UGX 384.4 to UGX 379.2 for Large Industrial Consumers, and from UGX 325.0 to UGX 320.6 for Extra-Large Industrial Consumers.  The Tariff for the Street Lighting Consumer category remained unchanged at UGX 370.0.

Overall, there was a 1.6 percent Weighted Average Reduction in the Tariffs compared to the Fourth Quarter of 2023 across all consumer categories except for Street Lighting. The Commercial and Medium Industrial categories had a Tariff reduction of 1.8% and 2.8%, respectively, which is aimed at supporting the growth of the Small and Medium-sized industries.

The 1.6% Weighted Average Tariff reduction, according to the ERA Board Chairperson, Dr. Sarah Wasagali Kanaabi, is equivalent to a saving of UGX 40.321 Billion to the Electricity Consumer.

The Authority maintained the Lifeline Tariff for Domestic Customers whose 3-month historical average consumption is below 100 units at UGX 250 for the First 15 Units in a month. The Cooking Tariff which was introduced to incentivize domestic consumption and power uptake at the household level was also maintained at UGX 412.0 per Unit for 70 units from the 81st to 150th unit consumed by a Domestic Customer in a month.

The Institutional Cooking Tariff of UGX 451 per unit to support over 500 institutions such as schools, hospitals, and prisons to transition from the use of Biomass (firewood and charcoal) to cooking using Electricity will also be maintained in the year 2024.

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, while addressing the Media Briefing noted the changes to the Token Identifier System, which will require all Electricity Consumers in the Country to have their Prepaid Meters upgraded before 24th November, 2024.

The Minister also encouraged Ugandans to take up opportunities such as investment opportunities, reduced costs of connection, and Tariff incentives presented by the Electricity Supply Industry in this new year to meet their socio-economic aspirations.

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