On Monday, 17 January 2022, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) held online public hearings for comment on ESKOM’s Annual application for an electricity tariff increase. The application for the 20.5% increase is one that is extremely worrying and controversial, as it would disproportionately affect Low-Income Households and Individuals.
This massive increase would not only be an excessive measure that would not “resolve many of the energy issues”, but would also push communities into a corner, leaving them with their hands tied as they are forced to choose between food or electricity due to the estimated unaffordability. This is the reality of many community members across South Africa.
“Our pensioners, especially those on R 1800 grants are struggling to put food on the table, and electricity prices are too high. There is an unfair choice to make.” said pensioner and community carer, Ann October.
“I want to know why we are not using more renewable energy, like solar, when sunlight is free? ,” said October.
In the White Paper on the Energy Policy of the Republic of South Africa, 1998, it states that “Government is committed to promoting access to affordable and sustainable energy services for small businesses, disadvantaged households, small farms, schools, clinics, in our rural areas and a wide range of other community establishments.” During the hearings, the contribution this year by the Executive Mayor of Cape Town was welcomed. His creation of a petition advocating for no 20.5% increase has garnered much support but because of years of broken promises, just as much scepticism.
After years of communities and NGOs alike attending these hearings and putting forward submissions to NERSA on the unaffordability of rapidly increasing electricity prices, it seems the entity will continue to pass the additional costs to us, the end-users.
Despite the inconvenient timing of the request for comments, when families are busy getting back to work and school – as well as the really jargon-filled technical documents relating to Eskom’s methodology for tariff increases, community representatives and NGO’s will attempt to have their messages heard in any way that they can. The message, while presented differently in the coming hearings in other provinces, will share the same principle at its core: Why do we have to continue carrying the burden for poorly planned and maintained, dirty coal-generated electricity?
