Economic models show it is better and fairer for tariffs — not taxes — to pay for electricity, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) heard on Tuesday. If electricity was sold at the “right price”, it would be used more efficiently, so less would have to be invested in new generating capacity, Eskom
Our economy and its industrial base is power intensive and South Africa has one of the highest power consumption-to-unit of gross domestic product ratios anywhere. Cheap and abundant energy has, for a long time, represented our comparative advantages and shaped our economy. It has allowed South Africa to avoid
It’s been nearly two months since Eskom presented its proposed tariff increases to the public as part of its third multi-year price determination (MYPD3) for 2013/14 through to 2017/18. Although there have been some useful inputs from civil society, there has not been any real engagement from
LinkedIn, the online network for business professionals, says it signed up its two millionth South African user on Tuesday. The US company, which is listed on the Nasdaq in New York with a market capitalisation of US$12bn, says it has 187m members in more 200 countries. It says the three biggest
Under ordinary circumstances, Wilmot Prusent only speaks about Eskom to complain. The electricity bill for his five-bedroom home in Summerset Estate, Midrand, has escalated to R2 500 in the average month. “All they ever do is raise our rates, raise our rates,” he grumbled. Recently
The demand for electricity is declining, Eskom finance director Paul O’Flaherty said on Tuesday. “We were predicting that sales would go down,” he said. Releasing its interim results in Johannesburg, Eskom posted electricity sales of 110 766GWh
Cable theft costs South Africa about R5bn/year, and the “war on cable theft” is being intensified, police minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Tuesday.In written reply to a parliamentary question, he said training for designated “second-hand goods” police officers
The 16% electricity tariff hike every year for the next five years is unavoidable, public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba said on Tuesday. “It [the tariff increase] is not fair, [but] it is necessary,” Gigaba said at a business breakfast in Fourways.
South Africa needs an independent operator in the electricity sector, the Free Market Foundation (FMF) said on Tuesday. A single grid owner and operator, South Africa’s current model, resulted in a lack of competition, FMF director Eustace Davie told reporters
Independent power producers could provide more than 60GW of conventionally produced electricity, according to the department of energy. This is nearly twice the total capacity now produced by Eskom – and it could be brought to market for far less than what
