Economist Trevor Hambayi has welcomed the Energy Regulation Board-ERB’s approval of ZESCO`s application for an emergency tariff upward adjustment, where it seeks to raise $14 million per month for power imports during the current energy crisis.

Mr Hambayi has however criticized ZESCO for providing only seven hours of electricity per day, stating that this limited supply is not adequate for businesses to operate effectively.

He has pointed out that many companies have already shut down due to the unreliable power supply, emphasizing the urgent need for a more consistent electricity provision.

Mr Hambayi says with the new tariffs in place, ZESCO should now focus on reducing the hours of load shedding as businesses require more reliable access to electricity in order to recover amidst the energy crisis.

He has called on ZESCO to develop effective strategies to address the ongoing energy crisis citing that raising tariffs is not enough.