Nersa public hearings to continue

Johannesburg - The National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa), will hold its public hearings into Eskom's proposed electricity price increases at the Mangaung Metro Council in Bloemfontein, in the Free State, on Monday.

Eskom has applied to raise electricity prices by 16% per year over the next five years.

Eskom estimates it will need R1.1 trillion for its infrastructure maintenance, staff cost and growth.

At a recent hearing in Durban, the energy regulator was warned that as many as 35 000 people in the sugar cane industry could lose their jobs if Eskom is granted a 16% electricity increase.

The SA Cane Growers' Association warned the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) that the increase could result in the closure of four mills.

The association's financial affairs director Thomas Funke said the sugar cane industry made R10bn a year and employed 350 000 people.

Funke said an increase which was higher than inflation was not possible for the association to digest.

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA have indicated that they will hold a picket outside the hearings on Monday.