FCCC Slams Government For Pausing EFL Tariff Increase

In a move that has been described as unprofessional, the Chief Executive of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), Senikavika Jiuta, has made strong allegations against the Government on social media.

Jiuta, on her personal LinkedIn profile, alleged that rules are being changed to suit political convenience amid growing criticism over the recent electricity tariff increase.

In a LinkedIn post, which has since been deleted, Jiuta said that while regulators are frequently called upon to be transparent, those making such demands do not always uphold the same standards.

She claimed that regulatory rules were being “shifted mid-game” to accommodate political or personal agendas, warning that such actions undermine trust in regulatory systems.

Jiuta said that when regulators are pressured to serve political convenience rather than regulatory principles, their independence is eroded.

Earlier, the FCCC approved a 22 per cent increase in electricity tariffs just before Christmas, triggering widespread backlash.

It was later found that the FCCC had not conducted proper consultations before making the decision.

This prompted condemnation from the public, political leaders, and even the Consumer Council of Fiji, which rejected the FCCC’s claims that the increase would not impact grassroots Fijians.

“As electricity costs rise for businesses, there is a very real risk that these increases will be passed directly on to consumers,” Consumer Council CEO Ms Seema Shandil said, a fact that appears to have been ignored by the FCCC when approving the tariff increase.

Jiuta also rejected accusations of incompetence levelled at the FCCC, stating that such claims often arise when rules are applied properly and without favour. She questioned whether the criticism reflected genuine concerns about capability or dissatisfaction with decisions that did not compromise integrity.

“True regulatory competence is not about pleasing power,” Jiuta said, adding that it requires consistent application of the rules, resistance to interference, and standing by evidence-based and lawful decisions, even when they are unpopular.

However, questions remain as to why consultations were not conducted and why the FCCC CEO earlier claimed that the tariff increase would not impact grassroots Fijians.