Minister of Energy and Electricity Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said he and his department are committed to finding an enduring solution to the rising cost of electricity in South Africa.
“There’s been an exponential rise in the cost of electricity. Our electricity pricing plan needs to kick in and that’s the primary preoccupation of the work of the ministry now working with Eskom; working with municipalities and working with South African Local Government Association (SALGA).”
He addressed some initiatives by municipalities, which have not been well received by communities. He cited the example of a “surcharge”. This is also known as a network fee.
The Minister was addressing a media briefing on Monday morning.
“We really don’t want to engage publicly on the merits of whether the R200 is necessary or not. What we want to do is to find a more enduring and robust solution to this problem,” he said.
Ramokgopa added that discussions with SALGA had already begun during the sixth administration.
“There’s an appreciation that it’s important that we pull together. This situation is untenable. Communities are getting more and more enraged and people just can’t afford the cost of electricity.
He said in finding solutions, the role of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) is indispensable.
“As an independent authority, they’ve got the duty to protect the consumer, they’ve got a duty to interrogate the proposed tariff increases from Eskom and also from municipalities. So what we’re going to do is not to pressure Nersa but to work with Nersa.
“We will work with the municipalities. We know what you are going through and it is our intention to resolve this question,” Ramokgopa said.
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