Zimbabwe has announced a four-fold increase inelectricity tariff to boost revenue for more power generation and imports. In a statement, the Zimbabwe Energy and RegulatoryAuthority ZERA said the sharp rise came at a time the country was grapplingwith severe power cuts which are affecting domestic, industrial and commercialconsumers across the country. The country had for years enjoyed a low power tariffof 9.86 United State cents per kWh, which was further eroded to a low of 1.01cents per kWh as of August this year. This led ZERA to approve an application by the powerutility to increase the tariff to 38.61 cents per kWh in August. On October 3 this year, ZERA againapproved another power tariff increase to 162.16 cents per kWh to enable thepower utility to ramp up power generation and increase imports which arecurrently gobbling 19.5 million dollars per month. ZERA said it had increased the tariff after takinginto account the long hours of load shedding lasting up to 18 hours per day,the high cost of alternative energy supplies and the further deterioration ofthe tariff against rising inflation.