Opposition MP Premila Kumar has accused Energy Fiji Limited’s tariff application process of becoming little more than “storytelling,” calling on the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) to impose stronger monitoring and accountability measures before approving future electricity price increases.
Speaking during the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs hearing on the FCCC’s review of Energy Fiji Limited’s 2023–2024 Annual Reports, Kumar said the regulator needed to demand detailed project plans and measurable outcomes whenever EFL sought tariff adjustments.
She argued that without a proper monitoring framework, it becomes difficult to determine whether commitments made during previous tariff reviews were actually delivered.
“When you don’t have a clear mechanism of monitoring, it becomes a problem. It’s more of a storytelling. They’ll come and tell you a story,” Kumar said.
The former minister said tariff approvals should be tied to specific projects, budgets and implementation timelines so that regulators can assess progress before considering further increases.
“First, they must clearly state which project, what is the amount they have budgeted for that project, what are the things they are going to do in that particular year, so that you can monitor those activities when they come for the next tariff increase.”
Kumar said stronger regulatory oversight was needed to ensure consumers were receiving value for the money they paid through electricity charges.
“I would like to see a stronger enforcement in this area because the public should not be fooled.”
She also questioned whether consumers were effectively being asked to fund EFL’s business activities.
“Consumers’ money should not be used to fund their activities. If they are in a business, they have to put their money up front to get things done.”
“It cannot be the other way around, that the government or the public, the consumers are bailing them out.”
Kumar said recurring issues highlighted in EFL’s annual reports suggested the need for a tougher regulatory approach.
“We are just getting tired of reading the way they are reporting. It needs to go to another level.”
She urged FCCC to exercise its authority more aggressively to ensure commitments made by EFL are properly tracked and enforced.
“I expect FCCC to be really strong in that area and ensure that there is no repeat of what we are seeing in the 2023 and 2024 annual reports,” Kumar said.
