Gov’t Slashes Rural Electricity Connection Costs Dramatically

Government has announced a significant reduction in electricity connection costs for rural households, slashing the fee from 177,000 shillings to 27,000 shillings.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga, shared this news while addressing a parliamentary query from MP Yahya Massare about reverting the connection fee to its previous level.
Kapinga clarified that under the new electricity tariffs set by EWURA, the cost for a single-phase electricity connection in rural areas is now 27,000 shillings, aligning with the REA fee and eliminating the previous discrepancy with TANESCO’s 177,000 shillings charge.

Following public complaints, the government directed TANESCO to match the REA fee in rural areas and subsidized the difference as a grant. Consequently, the uniform 27,000 shillings rate now applies to both REA and TANESCO connections in rural Tanzania.

ReadMore;Kenya’s Electric Vehicle Uptake Surges Fivefold

This reduction is expected to benefit rural communities, improving access to the national grid and reliable power supply. The government’s initiative was praised by MPs for bridging the urban-rural gap and ensuring equitable electricity access for all Tanzanians.

By subsidizing connection fees and standardizing rates across agencies, government aims to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, as outlined in the National Energy Policy. This move underscores the government’s commitment to affordability and accessibility of electricity, vital for sustainable development and enhancing rural livelihoods.