Be warned!
Owners of private embedded electricity generation systems, including solar PhotoVoltaic (PV) installations connected to the national grid, have been warned by the Eswatini Electricity Company to register their systems with the Phehla Sikwati campaign or face a E15 500 penalty.
The warning was made by Acting EEC Managing Director Mphumuzi Maziya when addressing members of the Editor’s Forum on Tuesday morning at Sibanesami Hotel.
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“The thing is that when there is a challenge on the solar involving high voltage or incident, the blame comes to EEC.
So, we are saying Phehla Sikwati otherwise we will impose the penalty of E15 500 which to be honest is too small given the costs that is normally attracted by these incidents,” Maziya said.
Maziya said it is important for grid safety, regulatory compliance and the effective management of distributed electricity generation.
The Acting MD also revealed in the same meeting that vandalism and copper theft has costs the company E2.3 million in 2024/25 and E1.7 million in 2025/26.
Maziya said the financial challenges which have forced the company to implement measures aimed at cutting operational costs has been made worse by vandalism and copper theft.
“The figure does not include the other costs associated with vandalism such as labour, lost revenue and service disruptions,” he added.
With Government’s E200 million bail out still not forthcoming, financially struggling Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) is E231.1 million in the red.
Maziya said the company’s revenue increased from E2.50 billion in 2020 to a projected E3.30 billion in 2026. However, the growth in revenue has not translated into improved profitability.
Maziya said the downward spiral is reflected in the operating profit which stood at E501.5 million in 2020 but now operating loss of E406.8 million projected for 2026.
“Right now, we are at E231.1 million loss and this projected 2026 loss follows a net loss of approximately E80.4 million in 2025, indicating a significant worsening in the company’s bottom line,” he said.
Maziya also revealed that proportion of EEC costs as of March 2026 stands as follows: 66 per cent is spent buying electricity outside the country, five per cent is spent on network, eight per cent other costs, eleven per cent on salaries, three per cent on VAT with depreciation standing at seven per cent.
Maziya stated that as part of the short-term turn-around strategy they will invest on Grid strengthening, reducing faults, reducing import costs/cost of sale through more affordable and clean local energy.
