Parly Committee Criticises Nersa Over Electricity Tariff Increase

Parliaments Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy has criticised the National Energy Regulator of South Africa Nersa for approving Eskoms application for an increase in electricity tariffs.

Last year, Nersa approved the power utilitys 12,7 tariff increase application starting from the first of next month.

Members of the committee have requested Nersa to provide the rationale behind its decision.

Nersa told the committee that the approval of the tariff increase has conditions, which include addressing unplanned power outages.

Executive Manager at Nersa, Nomfundo Maseti, says, We insisted that Eskom must reduce these unplanned outages. And we believe that if they were to do maintenance in a proper way, they can solve their maintenance regime. And we have given them money to do so. Therefore, they should be in a position to reduce the unplanned outages. We have put the bench mark for them as to where they need to be in terms of unplanned outages. And the unplanned outages are the ones that are causing the load shedding. So, if they can focus on that and perform appropriately, they should be able to reduce on that.