People will today have to pay more for bread and electricity if they are using more than $50 worth of electricity a month.

The electricity tariff increase averaging 3.2 cents per unit, a 15 percent increase approved earlier by cabinet, on the request of the Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA), will take effect from today.

The increase will be for all consumer categories, except life line domestic customers who are those that have a monthly electricity bill of about $50 and institutions namely religious organizations, schools, street lights and other non-profit organizations.  

If there are no changes to consumption levels, there will be a $9 increase for a power bill of $60 a month, a $12 increase for a bill of $80 a month and a $15 increase for a bill of $100 a month.

Transport and Public Utilities Minister, Timoci Natuva had earlier said the increase is due to adverse financial impacts as a result of the devaluation of the Fiji dollar and the removal of the fuel surcharge rate from the 11th of March this year, as instructed by the Commerce Commission.

Natuva said due to the increase, the FEA is expected to gain additional revenue of about $2 million a month.