LIFE AND STYLE
CEB to Increase Monthly Electricity Bills for 542,500 Customers from 4 May
Households and businesses across Mauritius are bracing for a significant rise in energy costs as the Central Electricity Board (CEB) prepares to implement a new tariff structure on 4 May 2026.
The price adjustment will see monthly domestic bills climb by as much as Rs 450, while large commercial entities face staggering increases of up to Rs 33,000.
The CEB has attributed the hike to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has driven up the cost of heavy fuel oil.
Beyond cost recovery, the measure aims to reduce energy waste and encourage more efficient consumption.
The Scale of the Increase
The tariff revision affects the vast majority of the CEB’s 542,500 customers, though 128,000 households on the 110A tariff remain exempt.
For those impacted, the financial burden varies based on consumption levels:
| Category | Current Bill (Average) | New Estimated Bill | Monthly Increase |
| Low Consumption Household | Rs 400 | Rs 460 | + Rs 60 |
| Average Consumption Household | Rs1,000 | Rs 1,150 | + Rs 150 |
| High Consumption Household | Rs 3,000 | Rs 3,450 | + Rs 450 |
| Small Commercial (Tarif 217) | Rs 28,000 | Rs 32,200 | + Rs 4,200 |
| Large Commercial (Tarif 217) | Rs 220,000 | Rs 253,000 | + Rs 33,000 |
| Medium Industry (Tarif 313) | Rs 27,000 | Rs 31,050 | + Rs 4,050 |
| Large Industry (Tarif 313) | Rs 170,000 | Rs 195,400 | + Rs 25,400 |
Economic Ripple Effects
Industry experts warn of an “inevitable” indirect impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Nitish Rama, Director of The Formula, noted that even firms not directly targeted by the 15% increase will feel the squeeze as “suppliers, transporters, and logistics partners pass their increased overheads onto their rates.”
Mr Rama further cautioned that export-oriented businesses might see their international competitiveness weakened.
“Costs related to production, packaging, and storage will be indirectly hit,” he stated, adding that companies may be forced to choose between absorbing the costs or raising prices, which risks a slowdown in consumer demand.
Energy Profile and Rising Demand
The price hike arrives amid rising national energy needs. Statistics Mauritius data reveals that peak power demand reached 525.7 MW in Mauritius and 8.6 MW in Rodrigues during 2024—a year-on-year increase of 3.4% and 1.2% respectively.
The nation’s reliance on fossil fuels remains high; of the 3,417.6 GWh produced in 2024, 81.8% was derived from non-renewable sources like coal and oil.
Only 18.2% came from renewables, primarily bagasse, highlighting the vulnerability of the local grid to global fuel price volatility.
Source: Defi Media