South Africans have faced sharp electricity tariff hikes
Image: Timothy Barnard /Independent Newspapers
The Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy has called on Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to accelerate the review of South Africa’s electricity pricing policy.
Over the past few years, South Africans have faced sharp electricity tariff hikes, with Eskom implementing a 12.74% increase effective last month, following approval from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).
The continued rise in electricity tariffs has prompted warnings that the increases are unsustainable and could result in significant financial strain for both households and businesses.
Last year, Ramokgopa acknowledged that electricity in the country was becoming increasingly unaffordable. He emphasised that one of the most critical challenges facing the nation is balancing the need to stabilise the energy sector with the responsibility of protecting citizens.
“One of the most critical challenges we face is balancing the need to stabilise our energy sector with the responsibility to protect citizens from economic hardships, particularly the poor and the marginalised communities,” he said.
Committee Chairperson Nonkosi Mvana revealed that the committee called on the Minister of Electricity to review the electricity pricing policy to better reflect the country’s current energy dynamics.
“Given the problem of affordability of electricity in the country, the committee called the Minister of Electricity to review the electricity pricing policy to reflect the country’s dynamics within the electricity in SA," Mvana said, according to the SABC.
Mvana further revealed that the policy is currently being reviewed to align with broader electricity reforms.
"The policy is currently being reviewed to align the policy with the broader electricity reforms. One of the objectives of the review is to obtain a balance between competitive imperatives. That is an affordable electricity tariff for low consumers.”
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
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