South Africa’s electricity supplier Eskom applied to the National Energy Regulator (Nersa) last month for an increase in the consumer price of electricity. Now, the public has been given a chance voice its opinion about it.
“Nersa will hold public hearings on Eskom’s selective reopener application for the third Multi-Year Price Determination,” Nersa explained in a public notice.
Tomorrow and Wednesday (23rd and 24th June) have been set aside for the public consultations that will take place at the Nasrec Expo Centre from 9am until 4pm.
“Eskom’s selective reopener application is for a total price increase of 25.30 per cent for the 2015/16 financial year. This will consist of the 12.69 per cent already approved by the Energy Regulator, the 10.10 per cent selective reopener for Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) and the Short-Term Power Purchase Programme (STPPP), as well as 2.51 per cent for the increase in the environmental levy by 2c/kWh,” Nersa said.
If you would like to attend the hearings or present your views, you will have to submit them to Nersa by 3:30pm today through the following means:
- Telephone Number: 012 401 4656
- Fax Number: 012 401 4100
- Email Address: publichearings@nersa.org.za
Last week, Eskom’s Acting CEO Brian Molefe told the media during its quarterly briefing on the electricity system that Eskom doesn’t need “unwanted utterances” about the extraordinary tariff hike that it has asked to be applied in this financial year.
“The actual application is 6.8 per cent on the basis of what we do. It is a more realistic figure, and the price increase also allows for some extra money to allow us to deal with extraordinary circumstance – which comes to a total of 8 per cent,” he said.
[Image – CC by 2.0/Joe Dunckley]
