Some Soweto residents reject Eskom's proposed electricity hike
On Tuesday, NERSA kicked off its first leg of public consultations in Soweto.
A picket against Eskom's proposed tariff increase was held in Soweto on Tuesday, 3 December 2024, outside the venue where NERSA was holding its public consultations on the matter. Picture: Thabiso Goba/ Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Some Soweto residents have rejected Eskom's proposed electricity hikes, saying it will make electricity unaffordable.
On Tuesday, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) kicked off its first leg of public consultations in Soweto.
The consultations are around Eskom's application to hike its electricity prices by 36.15% in the next financial year.
The public consultation process started with Eskom officials making presentations on why they need to increase its prices.
The officials said the power utility needs to increase its revenue to meet the growing demand for electricity and the upgrading and maintenance of its infrastructure.
However, a spokesperson for the Earthlife movement in Soweto, Thabo Sibeko, said electricity is already expensive.
"The 36% tariff hike is unacceptable by all means, because to start with there's 32% of unemployment in South Africa so already residents are struggling to pay for electricity with the current tariffs what more and what will happen if the tariff increases by 36%, that will actually cripple a lot of residents."
NERSA is set to decide on Eskom's application on 20 December.
A picket outside Uncle Tom’s community hall in Soweto where NERSA is holding a public consultation process on Eskom’s proposed electricity tariff hikes. TCG pic.twitter.com/W4uZr187H3
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 3, 2024
ESKOM URGES GOVT TO COME TO PARTY
Eskom, says it will need assistance from the government to make electricity affordable.
When asked whether this will price out many South Africans from electricity - Eskom’s chief financial officer - Calib Cassim – said that’s not the primary mandate of the power utility.
“At the end of the day, I think this affordability question is a bigger socio-economic question that government needs to address and come into the party.
“We can only do so much in terms of tariffs and how we structure tariffs but government needs to also contribute to solving the challenges in terms of inequality, poverty and unemployment.”
Cassim said Eskom provides free basic electricity to over two million indigent households in the country.