The Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (the Authority) Commission has approved and is issuing to the Vanuatu National Power and Water (VANPWA) Limited its new base tariff of 64.29 Vatu/kWh to be applied for a period of 12 months to its customer billings in both Tanna and Malekula electricity concessions.

The new tariff is a uniform tariff in which the Authority has amalgamated VANPAWA’s operational costs and demand forecasts for both the Tanna and Malekula electricity concessions. The issued tariff is based on VANPAWA’s actual operational and network technical data for the last 19 months of generating and supplying electricity in these two Concessions.

In its decision, the Authority has introduced and is allowing VANPAWA to undertake monthly adjustments to the base tariff for diesel fuel used in generation and renewable energy contributions each month.

Amendments are also made to VANPAWA’s customer tariff structure with great consideration for customer affordability, with forward looking anticipation of increasing VANPAWA’s customer base. Fixed and variable charges for certain customer groupings are reduced, especially for the business category.

The Authority’s team has undertaken consultations from Monday 18 to Friday 22 August 2025 in Tanna and from Thursday 21 August to Wednesday 27 August 2025 in Malekula, purposely to inform the electricity consumers and customers in both Tanna and Malekula of the tariff changes.

Positive response to the tariff changes was received, including constructive feedback provided by customers on VANPAWA’s service delivery. Feedback will be discussed with VANPAWA’s General Manager at its Head Office in Vila.