Power distribution giant UMEME is in talks with government body Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to consider the resultant costs as Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) moves to have all electricity meters to be retested.
As Ugandans wait for a public hearing next month seek for publics’ views on the utilities proposals, including the suggestion of factoring in the meter testing in the retail tariff. ERA is going through different power utilities tariff review applications for 2018.
“Umeme has written to ERA to consider the corresponding costs to execute the meter testing within the tariff computation as operational costs for installed meters and capital costs…” Umeme said through its Tariff Review Application for 2018.
A local daily on Thursday quoted UNBS’ fee for testing prepaid meters as Shs40, 000 (Shs5, 000 is for the starting test, Shs5, 000 creeping test, Shs5, 000 high voltage testing fee, Shs30, 000 accuracy fee and Shs10, 000 laboratory fee).
Umeme, who as of September 30, 2017 had 1 million customers want clarification on who will meet the cost between government or the consumer [through the retail tariff].
