Villages living in the rural areas and wanting electricity to come to their homes, pay different amounts of money.

Fiji Electricity Authority, CEO Hasmukh Patel has today confirmed that costing for the line extension works for any particular group, Rural Electrification Scheme undergoes an economic analysis for the evaluation of the contribution value to be paid by the group.

He said if the Authority achieves a 4% rate of return on the Project, then no contribution is required from the applicants for the schemes.

But if the rate of return is less than 4% then the applicants have to pay for the Project.

Patel adds this means that villagers that come under the rural electrification project pay around $132.50 to get the wiring into their homes and those that do not fall under the rural electrification project and ask for electricity to come to their homes, as in the case of Navolau village in Naitasiri, have paid approximately $300 dollars for this.

Patel also said that they have also commenced on a project for the 12 villagers in the Tikina of Dawasamu, namely Nataleira, Qelekuro and Lawaki to name a few, and this commenced in February, 2010 soon after Cyclone damages were restored around the country.

Patel confirms that they have completed 15% of the works which cover around 44.2km of power line which requires approximately 550 power poles.

He said partial energizing of the line is anticipated by the end of April and the project should be completed by December, 2010.