The $2.9B allocated to maintain the electricity subsidy in Linden and Kwakwani will benefit 10,363 electricity customers in Region 10.

This intervention will enable these customers to continue to benefit from the currently prevailing electricity rates throughout 2013. “At current rates, this translates to a benefit of $279,801 per electricity customer, per annum, or $23,317 per month,” Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh said during the presentation of the 2013 national budget in the National Assembly.
Government had moved in 2012 to gradually align the electricity rates paid by the residents of Linden with those of electricity customers on the GPL grid, but this move was blocked by opposition forces, who, for political mileage, misled the residents. Subsequently there was a protest over the increase in the tariff, during which three protesters were killed and others injured.
Government, moving to restore calm, agreed to stay the removal of the electrical tariff for the mining town, until the matter was properly examined by a committee.
Pending  completion of the work of that committee, government’s 2013  budget made an allocation for the maintenance of the electricity subsidy in Linden and Kwakwani, but Minister Singh, during his presentation of the budget,  urged “timely completion of the committee’s deliberations so that this matter can be brought to conclusion.”