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Feb 13 2012 12:15
Miner Xstrata says it has brought forward maintenance on two furnaces to assist Eskom to save power.
Feb 13 2012 10:43
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Feb 13 2012 07:58
Greek lawmakers have approved a new round of drastic austerity measures after a long day of street battles between police and protesters left dozens injured.
Johannesburg - Residential electricity costs should be reduced not increased, said trade union Solidarity on Thursday.
"If international trends are used as a guideline for South African electricity rates, the rates charged to residential consumers should be reduced by approximately 43.3%," said Solidarity deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann.
Herman said internationally, residential consumers paid on average 51% more for electricity than industries.
"South Africa does not follow remotely similar principles and
residential consumers are currently paying around 168% more than industrial clients," according to Hermann.
"In some municipalities, households are paying as much as 190
percent more than industries."
He said Eskom should redress this imbalance.
"Electricity rates for households should only be increased by 20% to be in line with the average residential rate in developing countries."
The union said it would be submitting a report on these concerns to the National Energy Regulator's public hearings on May 23 about proposed electricity rates increase.
- Sapa