Luanda, May 9, 2025 (Lusa) - Water and electricity tariffs in Angola will increase by 30% and 11.5%, respectively, according to the new table approved by the Water and Electricity Services Regulatory Institute (IRSEA), which comes into force next month.

IRSEA stressed in its statement that the tariff increase will be gradual and aims to cover increased production and distribution costs, modernise and expand networks in urban and rural areas, and prevent service degradation.

Electricity will be hiked 11.5% initially, based on an average tariff of 12.8 kwanzas/KWh (about 0.013 cents).

According to IRSEA estimates, a family in the Social Domestic I category (which benefits from a discount on their bill) with a contracted power of 1.3 KVA, which previously paid an average of 291.88 kwanzas, will now pay 379.68 kwanzas (an increase from 28 to 38 cents).

In the Single-Phase Domestic category, a family with a contracted power of 6.6 KVA that paid 9,120.22 kwanzas will now pay 13,516.16 kwanzas (the price rises from €9 to €13).

As for water, the tariff will have an initial adjustment of 30% (considering an average tariff of 780 kwanzas or 78 cents/m3), with a phased readjustment, "maintaining the subsidy for essential chemicals for treatment".

IRSEA highlights the new "staggered and consumption-based" tariff structure, with the social tariff maintained to protect lower-income families.

Families on the social tariff with consumption of zero to five m3 who paid an average of 200 kwanzas (20 cents) will now pay 260 kwanzas (26 cents), while in bracket 2 with consumption equal to or greater than 10 m3, the cost will rise from 260 kwanzas to 338 kwanzas (33 cents).

IRSEA points out that average water expenditure represents 2.4% of the monthly budget of households with social tariffs. In comparison, electricity accounts for 2.2% of the monthly expenditure of households with social tariffs, which is below the regional average.

RCR/ADB // ADB.

Lusa