Umeme is expected to start evacuation of power from Karuma hydropower plant and needs to continue investing in the distribution network, to not only improve supply but to boost demand too.
Uganda’s main power distribution company, Umeme, has tabled a $219 million (Shs813.2 billion budget) for the year 2021. Of that, $119 million (Shs442.4 billion) will be for capital investments in the grid while $60m (Shs222.4bn) will cater for net operating costs.
The company says it will spend $2m (Shs6.6bn) on lease payments and the balance ($38m/Shs141.8bn) on an assortment of other items. It plans to invest in the evacuation of Karuma and Acwa hydropower plants, improving power supply and expanding the network.
Additionally, the distributor will clear the backlog of 240,000 applications for connection and convert the 40,000 post-paid meters still in use to prepaid. Selestino Babungi, the Umeme Managing Director, told stakeholders in a virtual application for a tariff review that COVID19 has impacted the way the company does its business and that many things will change.
“2020 was a difficult year for us as a company. We had ambitious plans but COVID19 impacted us. However, we demonstrated resilience and as a company, we say that electricity is a fundamental input into the economic transformation of this country so we came out strongly to continue putting in place systems for the continuity of supply and services to our customers,” he said.
Umeme is expected to start evacuation of power from Karuma hydropower plant and needs to continue investing in the distribution network, to not only improve supply but boost demand too.
While presenting the company’s revenue requirement, Blessing Nshaho, Umeme’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer, said prospective electricity customers will soon be applying for connections online.
He, however, appealed to customers to understand, that while they need an affordable tariff, Umeme and other companies are now forced to charge a tariff that reflects the cost of delivering the service.
//"Cue in: We know that….
Cue out:…. are suffering."//
The online application system is in line with standard operating procedures on minimising human contact where possible. Presently, one must travel to the company’s office in their area serves to pick and fill application forms, but under the new system currently under testing, this will change.Umeme currently has 1.53 million customers up from 292, 000 in 2005 when it launched its operations.It also promises that it will take only 10 days to connect a customer who needs no pole, […]
