No, ZESCO has not hiked connection fees as circulated in the media.

Rating Justification

The Fact Checking process has determined as false, the claim by Zambia Never Forgets that ZESCO has hiked the meter connection fee from k1700 to K7000, whilst hiking the meter separation fee from k750 to K6000. In a statement obtained by iVerify, ZESCO Corporate Affairs stated that ZESCO Limited had continued to use market reflective fees for all new electricity connections to provide an effective and efficient service to its customers. The Zambian power utility firm further clarified that the said connection fees have neither been increased nor changed, but are market driven as has been the case for all non-standard connections. In the Press Statement, ZESCO clarified that this was in contrast to media circulation that connection fees have been increased. In another Press Statement obtained by iVerify, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) urged members of the public to disregard the reported revised connection fees for electricity connection and meter separation. ERB further urged the members of the public to bring to the attention of the regulation board anyone who subjected them to new charges. Therefore, the claim by Zambia Never Forget Facebook page that ZESCO has hiked the meter connection fee from k1700 to K7000, whilst hiking the meter separation fee from k750 to K6000, is false.