SAVE ELECTRICITY: Nersa grants Eskom 9.4 per cent tariff increase
Just as consumers are breathing a sign or relief with the petrol price dropping, it has been announced that Eskom has been granted a 9.4 per cent tariff increase for the 2016/17 financial year.
The tariff is applicable for the 2016/17 financial year only and the ariff increase will be effective on April 1, 2016.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) made this announcement on its decision regarding Eskom’s Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA) application for the first year of the Third Multi-Year Price Determination.
In November last year, Eskom submitted its RCA application for consideration by the regulator. Eskom applied for an RCA balance of R22.8bn in its favour.
This means Eskom will be granted R11.2-bn, therefore half of its application.
In its submission, Eskom said the move was driven substantially by revenue under-recovery and higher primary energy costs.
If Eskom had not brought this application, tariffs would have increased by 3.5 per cent.
The tariff hike will be introduced differently for municipalities.
- Switch your ceiling fan to turn in a counter-clockwise direction in the summer; in the winter, run it at low speed, but clockwise.
- Close your exterior doors and windows tightly when the AC is on. Save even more by turning off kitchen and bath exhaust fans.
- Change or clean your Air Conditioner’s (AC) air filters at least once a month to keep your system running at peak performance.
- Make sure your AC has a rating – or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) – of 15.
- Make saving automatic: Set your thermostat fan switch to ‘auto’ to save energy. Leaving it in the ‘on’ position keeps air running constantly.
- Block the sun from overheating your home! Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs.
- Insulate your walls with injected foam insulation to help you save energy by keeping hot outside air from seeping through porous block walls – check with your local building supply company for details.
- Give your AC tune-up. Running an inefficient AC system can result in high monthly bills. Plus, you could qualify for a rebate.
- Open interior doors so that cooled air flows freely throughout your home.
- Repair leaky ducts to reduce heating and cooling costs and qualify for a rebate toward repairs.
- Install attic insulation rated R-30 and sealing any attic leaks to reduce high home cooling costs. You’ll save money each month and qualify for a rebate of $75 or more.
- Check for household leaks to make sure air isn’t escaping through openings such as fireplace dampers, doors and windows.
- Decorate for a cooler home by hanging light-coloured curtains that allow light to enter a room while blocking some of the sun’s rays, and light-coloured paint to reflect heat.
- Close unused air vents. If you have central AC you can close air vent in rooms you’re not using so you’re not paying to cool them.
- Plant trees to provide shade on the sunny side of your home.
- Use ceiling fans to cool off for less. Ceiling fans use no more electricity than a standard light bulb. However, be sure to turn fans off when you leave — they only cool people, not rooms.
- Install more ceiling fans. Because the breeze of a fan can make you feel three to four degrees cooler, you can raise that thermostat and still stay comfortable.
- Raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees to save on your cooling costs.
- Install a programmable thermostat to adjust your temperature during the day.
