Wever proposes temporary GEBE fuel clause freeze at 30 cents per kWh

MP Christopher Wever on Wednesday 4 November proposed that the Council of Ministers examine a temporary freeze of GEBE’s fuel clause at a lower rate. During the continuation of the 2027 national budget debate, Wever said the charge was about 45 cents per kWh and suggested 30 cents per kWh as a possible starting point for relief to households and businesses.

Wever said the government had frozen the clause at about 18 cents during the COVID-19 pandemic while he was a minister. He said a return to that level might not be financially feasible, and suggested that a rate of 30 or 32 cents could be considered depending on GEBE’s financial position and the effect on its operations. He also asked whether the utility could absorb part of the impact through lower profits.

Wever also asked ministers about support for special-needs education, the garbage collection tender, housing ownership proposals, building-permit applications and traffic measures. He asked the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor how it would address what he described as a gap between about Cg12 million needed for financial assistance and Cg8.2 million in the budget.