Load shedding NOT implemented on FRIDAY

Load shedding NOT implemented on FRIDAY
Images: Adobe stock

D-Day: Will NERSA approve Eskom’s 32% tariff hike application?

Despite being plunged into darkness South Africans might find themselves paying more for electricity if NERSA approves Eskom’s application.

Load shedding NOT implemented on FRIDAY

Load shedding NOT implemented on FRIDAY
Images: Adobe stock

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is expected to make a decision on whether or not it will approve Eskom’s 32% revenue  application for 2023/24 financial year. 

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria granted NERSA an extension until 12 January 2023 to make its decision. 

NERSA TO DECIDED ON ESKOM’S 32% TARIFF HIKE

As is widely reported, Eskom seldom gets the increase it asks for from the regulator. Earlier in 2022, tariffs increased by 9.61% in April but the power utility had initially asked NERSA for a 20.5% increase.

If Eskom’s fifth Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD5) revenue application is fully approved, a 32% tariff hike will kick in on 1 April 2023 followed by a 9.74% increase in 2024/2025.

ALSO READ: ‘Irrational and disastrous’: DA on Eskom possibly moving to DMRE

NERSA Eskom
Outgoing Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

The Democratic Alliance (DA) was amongst political parties who were unhappy with Eskom’s application and called on NERSA to reject it.

The party said the power utility’s latest tariff application for a 32.7% increase in the price of electricity is immoral and an insult to South Africans who have endured possibly the worst load shedding schedule in 2022.

“South Africans are already struggling to stay above water due to rising costs of living and a high inflationary environment. For Eskom to add an additional high electricity tariff increase for a service that they cannot provide is simply unacceptable.

“Consumers cannot be expected to subsidise Eskom’s unviable business model and the ANC’s decades-long failure to open up the energy market to independent power producers.”

DA

STAGE 6 LOAD SHEDDING IMPLEMENTED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Eskom has ramped up load shedding to Stage 6 until further notice due to severe capacity constraints. 

Stage 4 load shedding was expected to take place from 16:00 – 05:00 until further notice however on Wednesday, 11 January, the power utility said severe constraints meant that Stage 6 power cuts need to be implemented for longer. Furthermore, 11 generators have reportedly broken down since Tuesday morning, 10 January.  

ALSO READ: Tshwane: Here’s your UPDATED load shedding schedule for THURSDAY