Ramokgopa tells Parliament interventions are in place to help offset impact of electricity costs
Ramokgopa was responding to questions in a written parliamentary reply on the new tariffs and other Eskom operations.
FILE: Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has told Parliament government has interventions in place to help offset the impact of rising electricity costs on households.
He says this includes expanding the free basic electricity programme to reach more people.
Ramokgopa was responding to questions in a written parliamentary reply on the new tariffs and other Eskom operations.
The minister says the government acknowledges the financial strain on consumers and businesses because of the 12.7% electricity tariff increase effective on the 1st of April.
But Ramokgopa says in his written response that the adjustment “is part of a broader effort to stabilise Eskom’s financial sustainability”.
He says this is happening while Eskom is implementing “cost-saving efficiencies” to mitigate the impact of rising electricity costs.
While the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) programme remains in place to provide relief to indigent households, Ramokgopa says the ministry is working on “policy proposals to increase the quantum” of free basic electricity as well as a more targeted approach to apply the relief measure.
On the operational side, Ramokgopa says Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has improved to 61.56%, a 6.8% increase compared to the same period last year, reducing the risk of supply disruptions.