The Office of the Leader of the Opposition has slammed the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (FCCC) claim that 52 percent of domestic electricity users will see “no increase” under the new tiered tariff system, set to take effect on 1 January 2026.
“The claim that more than half of domestic households will pay the same is a calculated economic illusion,” said the Leader of the Opposition.
“Electricity does not exist in a vacuum. When prices rise for commercial users — supermarkets, rice mills, food processors, and bakeries — those costs are passed straight onto consumers. Families may see no change in their night-time light bills, but they will pay more for everyday essentials like bread, rice, and tinned fish.”
The Opposition warned that the FCCC’s overall 24.2 percent revenue increase would force businesses into a “profit recovery” mode.
“The three-cent per unit increase for commercial users will not be absorbed by businesses. It will be passed directly to consumers, squeezing household budgets and the purchasing power of every Fijian worker,” the Leader of the Opposition said.
Residents in Fiji’s Northern and Maritime divisions are expected to be hardest hit.
“For people in Vanua Levu, Lau, Ovalau, and Rotuma, this hike is a double burden,” the Opposition said. “High freight and logistics costs combined with rising electricity prices will further increase living costs and discourage investment outside Suva.”
The Opposition also questioned the consultation process behind the tariff hike.
“Despite claims of extensive consultation, the voices of ordinary Fijians and small businesses are being ignored in favor of Energy Fiji Limited’s financial priorities,” the Leader of the Opposition said.
The Opposition is calling for an immediate suspension of the tariff hike, a thorough social impact audit, and measures to prevent retailers from using electricity cost increases to justify higher prices on basic goods.
“Fijians should not be forced to pay more while EFL’s renewable energy transition remains slow and dependent on heavy borrowing,” the Leader of the Opposition concluded.
“A so-called ‘zero-increase’ is meaningless if families end up paying more for their basic necessities. System reliability is irrelevant if people cannot afford to live.”
