Consumers will see an additional electricity price hike next year after energy regulator Nersa announced on Thursday it had approved the regulatory clearing account (RCA) for Eskom.
“The National Energy Regulator of South Africa announced today that it has approved the regulatory clearing account balance of R7,8bn for Eskom Holdings SOC Limited,” the regulator said in a statement.
The RCA is a regulatory mechanism that allows Eskom to adjust for over-or under-recovery of revenue, as initial price determinations are based on projections and assumptions.
Eskom had initially applied for a cumulative RCA balance of R18,3bn.
“The approved RCA balance is for the second multi-year price determination (MYPD2) control period, 2010 to 2013, and will be implemented in the 2015/16 financial year.”
Nersa said the actual percentage tariff hike has yet to be determined.
The regulator would draft an implementation plan that would determine exactly how Eskom would recover the money.
Eskom has been asking for an equity injection of at least R50bn to solve its cash-flow problems.
On Tuesday the power utility painted a gloomy picture of its books, telling MPs it faced a R225bn revenue shortfall, partly as a result of being granted lower-than-expected tariff increases by Nersa. — Sapa