Joburg set for electricity hike

The city would approve Eskom's electricity tariff of 20.6% at its next council meeting, Masondo told journalists at the Braamfontein Civic Centre. The tariff would be implemented on August 1.

"This increase is a direct result of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (Nersa) decision to allow Eskom to levy an additional increase of 13.3% on its customers, on the already approved 14.2% increase," he said.

Poor consumers, however, would not be given an additional increase in tariffs and their share would be covered by the city.

City Power managing director Silas Zimu stressed that the more electricity people used, the more they would pay for it.

Councillor Roslynn Greeff, member of the mayoral committee for infrastructure and service said the tariffs were there "to help people".

"The tariffs seem punitive, but it's simply to force people to use less electricity...and now even if Eskom asks us to load-shed, we don't have to."

She explained that the city had enough "mitigating projects" to ensure that it would not be "load-shedded by Eskom".

"We are the only city in the country that can say this," Greeff said.

One of these projects was the city's buying electricity generated by solar panels from the German School after hours.

Zimu, meanwhile said the tariff would be applicable to structures including private houses, dwelling units, flats, boarding houses, hostels, caravan parks and industries.

"This basically means that we must find ways of saving and bringing hope to Johannesburg," Zimu said.