From 1 July, residents must expect to pay more for the usage of electricity during peak hours. According to spokesperson for City Power, Sol Masolo the power utility has applied for time-of-use tariffs which have been approved by National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to be implemented with effect from 1 July. “These tariffs will be higher during peak hours and lower during off-peak hours. The peak hours are from 6pm through to 10pm and from 7am to 10am,” explained Masolo.
He added that City Power has taken this initiative to encourage consumers to migrate their electricity consumption from peak hours to off-peak hours with minimal or little usage of electricity during peak hours. Masolo could not however mention the different tariff rates that will be applied for both peak and off peak hours.
For Little Falls resident Sello Modiga this is a ridiculous move by the power utility and not happy with the whole new plan. “They are just milking money from the middle class with all that they have,” said Modiga.
He continued, “Who cooks dinner between 11am and 3pm? We are at work at that time. This peak hour is when we help our children with homework and bathing them,” he furiously stated.
According to Masolo, this intervention is aimed at among others to mitigate the impact of load shedding and reduce pressure on the grid.
He also mentioned that a smart meter has the ability to show both City Power and a customer in real time how much electricity has been used in the previous month, week, day or hour by means of punching in the appropriate codes provided for on the meter. “With this benefit, the City of Johannesburg is able to send an accurate bill to the customer,”concluded Masolo.
