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Polokwane - An average suburban home could be paying around R2 386 per month for electricity in three years if Eskom's proposed electricity tariff increase is granted, public hearings into the matter heard on Tuesday.
This emerged during public hearings into the proposed 35% tariff hike, conducted by the National Energy Regulator of SA
(Nersa) in Polokwane.
While Eskom's acting board chairperson Mpho Makwana presented Eskom's case proficiently, no one stood up at the hearings in support of the utility's proposed 35% increase for every year over three years.
Currently an average household paid about R760 a month for
electricity.
Democratic Alliance member of the Limpopo legislature Jacques
Smalle said at the very most one could accede to an increase in the area of 14%.
Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary Dan Sibabi was
vehemently opposed to the increase, although he could not be pinned down on what percentage would be considered reasonable.
"Cosatu is heavily opposed to the proposed increase, which means an enormous 146% increase in total by the end of three
years," Sibabi said.
"These increases could force the poor to once again revert to
using dangerous and dirty energy sources."
Sibabi said he trusted Nersa would take the public's opinions
seriously this time, and not do as it did in April 2009 when around 170 submissions against an interim increase were "ignored".
Matome Madibana, listed on the programme as representing the
office of the Limpopo Premier, made it clear before his
presentation that he was there in is own personal capacity.
"I am speaking for the poor and middle class who could be the
ones to pay a heavy price for Eskom's mistakes."
He said any increase must be affordable to everyone.
"Basic economics work on the supply and demand principle. Eskom
has failed."
Also attending the hearing were representatives of the Young
Communist League, the Transvaal Agricultural Union, SA National
Non-Government Organisations Coalition, Plastic Converters
Association of SA, Nhzelele Electricity Customer Communication
Forum and the SA Council of Churches.
Only a handful of private citizens attended the hearing. The
poor attendance was in spite of Nersa apparently having advertisedthe hearing dates on radio stations in all official languages, as well as in various national newspapers in early December.
Nersa is due to make a decision on the proposed increase by the
end of the month.
The next hearing is in Kimberley on Wednesday.
- Sapa