The Nadi Chamber of Commerce has also expressed frustration in the manner which consultations are being done by the FCCC on the increase in electricity tariff rates.
While speaking to fijivillage News from FNPF Plaza, Chamber President Lawrence Kumar says the session was more of an awareness exercise than a genuine consultation.
He believes the consultation format needs to change, with a proper presentation explaining why the proposed tariff is necessary and clearly outlining the data and assumptions used to calculate it.
Kumar says FCCC never said they would be doing awareness sessions.
He says they are explaining to all those who have been coming why they are proposing the increment and are not actually taking feedback on it.
He says participants are not being asked whether they accept or reject the proposal and while the session is conducted on a one-on-one basis, he describes it as more of an awareness session than a consultation.
He says he was surprised as he thought FCCC and Energy Fiji Limited would do a presentation on data they have to substantiate the proposed tariff increment.
Kumar says they do not have those data, and they seemed to be explaining to the people as to why this increment is necessary and why they have proposed it and why it was implemented.
INSERT: Kumar on new rates 7 jan
Kumar says he met the CEO of FCCC on a one-on-one basis today and explained that in 2023, there were focus group consultation that were conducted by EFL and FCCC and explained the reason for the increment but that did not get approved.
The Chamber President says he is thankful to the Ministry of Finance for postponing the increment, if not, it would have a drastic effect on everyone.
He also says a lot of the business houses in Nadi are not approving of this proposed tariff and it needs to be postponed until more consultation is done.
Kumar says the cost of doing business will go up as no business owner is going to sustain that cost.
He stresses that if there is an increase in cost, it is going to be passed on to the consumer.
Meanwhile, the FCCC says at no point did they state that consultation sessions would involve group presentations and these are one-on-one sessions.
While responding to questions by fijivillage News, the FCCC says these were the type of consultations that FCCC carried out in 2019, 2023 and, currently are following the same format.
FCCC says they are actively meeting directly with members of the public to explicitly ask for their feedback on the proposed increase.
They say they have established a 21-day window for all interested parties to provide views via multiple platforms; email, online survey, written submissions, or face-to-face at their booths.
The Commission says they are also actively recording all feedback.
They say they are actively on the ground in major towns and cities to hear the public’s views directly.
They reiterate that they are bringing the consultation to the people through face-to-face engagement, which they maintain is the correct approach.
They also say EFL teams are on the ground to clarify technical details, so if there are questions about the submission, valid questions must be directed to them.
FCCC says for those who cannot attend in person, they have online survey forms, email options, and a 'Bill Calculator' on their website where customers can see the exact impact of the proposed tariff structure on their bill.
They say they have utilised this inclusive approach so all affected groups to participate.
When asked why increased tariff rates are not being explained, FCCC insists the increase and the reasons behind it are being explained at their venues.
They say FCCC officers are present to explain the regulatory process and receive feedback, while EFL personnel are on hand to clarify any questions regarding their submission.
They stress that EFL’s non-confidential submission and their online survey have been published on their website.
When asked if they believe this is meaningful consultation, FCCC insists that these are meaningful consultations.
They say this is not a box-ticking exercise.
FCCC says people have asked to be heard, and they are urging them to make submissions.
They say their inclusive strategy covers everyone from individual households to businesses.
They say while their teams were physically present in the North yesterday, the FCCC has simultaneously initiated high-level engagement with key organizations.
FCCC says letters have already been sent to major stakeholders, including the Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF), the Fiji Chamber of Commerce, SME associations, consumer groups, and NGOs.
They says these invitations call for written submissions and participation in dedicated roundtable discussions.
FCCC adds they accept feedback at their offices, venues, via email at energy@fccc.gov.fj, and through links conveniently available at https://linktr.ee/fijianccc.
FCCC adds they are committed to ensuring that everyone, from individual households to organisations, has access to platforms where they can assess the impact of the proposed tariff and provide their feedback.
