POLOKWANE – Municipal customers are in for a hefty increase in services tariffs with the most important tariffs such as water, sanitation, waste removal and assessment rates set to increase by 10% each.
Electricity tariffs will increase by at least 12,2% and Eskom increased the bulk purchase price by 14,29%. Lepelle Northern Water purchases will cost the municipality 6,5% more.
The new levies on electricity will be between R68 and R161. For water a basic charge of R115 for the first 2 000m² or part thereof with an additional charge of R16,70 for every additional 1 000m² or part thereof per month shall be levied per erf not categorised as residential one, two three or four.
Water restrictions, residential erven:
Additional charges to existing charges shall be levied to residential households and residential agricultural holdings using between 21 and 30Kl per month; R10 per Kl consumed. For more than 30Kl consumed, a levy of R40 per Kl will be charged. Townhouses and flats using between 15 and 20Kl; R10 per Kl consumed, 21 to 30Kl; R20 per Kl consumed and more than R30Kl; R40 per Kl consumed.
This is in addition to the following tariffs for domestic supply:
• For the first 5Kl: R6,09 per Kl.
• For the following 10Kl per Kl: R9,21.
• For the following 15Kl: per Kl R9,21.
• For the following 20Kl: per Kl R13,14.
• For the following 50Kl: per Kl R14,90.
• In excess of 100Kl: per Kl R19,23.
The draft municipal budget and integrated development plan for the city was tabled last Thursday and will still be available to public scrutiny until the final budget is adopted before the beginning of the new financial year, on July 1.
The municipality also stated its intention that new avenues of revenue enhancement would be explored.
According to the draft it is envisaged that Eskom may increase its tariffs a further 10% during the financial year. This has not yet been factored into the draft budget.
This proposed electricity increase by Eskom, being negotiated currently, might see a possible increase in electricity of 23,5%.
