Electric Power Corporation

The government-owned Electric Power Corporation said the new rates have been approved by the Office of the Regulator.

The notice on the change in its tariff per unit of electricity is due to energy charge monthly changes and "reinstatement of the 0.10 sene provided for the COVID-19 stimulus package."

Last year, the previous Government announced its COVID-19 stimulus package in 2020 which included a $0.10 sene reduction in the cost of electricity, which was an intervention that acknowledged Samoans’ financial hardships.

Upolu's supply was severely affected when two of the four generators at the main Fiaga power plant were damaged by lightning and thunderstorms on Monday.

The supply for the whole island was cut off for hours, and is running at only partial capacity.

The Electric Power Corporation chief executive, Tologata Tile Tuimaleali'ifano, said the design of the plant was supposed to withstand such storms.

The New Jersey-based company claims EPC tried to renegotiate a contract for generating renewable energy on Savaii.

According to the Samoa Observer, the company claims the renegotiations came after it was already chosen as a successful bidder for the project and it had already incurred expenses.

Louis Berger Power said an additional condition introduced by EPC tied an irrelevant tariff cost to diesel and substantially changed the contract, contrary to rules that allowed only minor changes.

According to Newsline Samoa, Galumalemana Afereti Tuiletufuga Hunkin, a matai from Apia with traditional land ties to the area affected, wanted the project stopped, because he feared the dam posed a threat to the safety of the people.

Galumalemana was one of many who attended a stakeholders consultation on Monday with the government utility.

He said the area suffered badly in the floods of 2012 and he feared for future generations of his family who may want to live in the area.

EPC General Manager, Tologata Tile Leia Tuimalealiifano said the incident is an unfortunate and tragic accident. 

The deceased is Tevita Amituanai from the village of Vaitele and Salailua.

Amituanai was part of the five linemen team including a supervisor that attended the upgrade works on its low voltage distribution network on Wednesday, 27 March 2019.

At around 3pm while working on its low voltage distribution network at Alafua, Amutuanai accidentally slipped and was electrocuted.