Zambia: Zesco makes fresh bid to raise tariffs

Zesco has applied to the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to raise electricity tariffs by 75% for domestic and non-mining industrial consumers, with an initial 50% increase on 1 May, followed by a further 25% on 1 September. The move aims to reduce power subsidies and thus ease pressure on the Treasury, which is battling a fiscal deficit of over 9% of gross domestic product.