Even with the 15.63% tariff hike to be implemented on 1 April, Eskom considers its electricity tariffs to be far from cost-reflective. Yet further big price hikes will mean alternative sources of energy become more viable.
Eskom hopes its proposed retail tariffs for 2021 will help solve a looming problem triggered by increased solar generation across the country.
Eskom is broke and can’t invest in any further capacity. Independent power producers will have to do it, and they will need an independent transmission and market operator that they trust.
Though Amazon.com is staying mum for now on details of its planned “utility-scale” renewable energy project in South Africa, it has emerged that it will source the power from a giant solar farm to be built in the Northern Cape.
Renewable energy procured from private generators contributed more than a quarter of the peak-time electricity South Africans consumed during the first half of 2020.
Consumers can have their say about several matters that will determine how much they pay for electricity from next year, after energy regulator Nersa published three discussion documents for comment.
What if I told you that our energy crisis could be alleviated with one simple change? Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But I can tell you that it is that simple. By Daniel Goldstuck.
The high court has sided with Eskom in a dispute over the amounts energy regulator Nersa allowed the state utility to claw back from customers for electricity supplied in the 2014/2015, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 financial years.
Figures and estimates show that independent power producers and corporate installations are close to generating as much electricity as one of Eskom’s modern power stations.
Energy regulator Nersa said on Friday it will allow utility Eskom to recover R13.3-billion from customers for electricity supplied in the 2018/2019 financial year.