The Democratic Alliance (DA) has bemoaned power utility Eskom’s tariff increase proposal of 32.7% to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).
Eskom has also proposed a R938 tariff charge for solar users.
The party said the increase would be unmanageable for South African households and businesses in the face of continued power outages.
DA Member of Parliament Kevin Mileham noted that Eskom battled billions of rands in debt while it struggled to recover further billions that municipalities owed the hamstrung power utility.
He added that the proposed price hike was Eskom’s way of lessening its financial burden, adding that consumers were not at fault but the municipalities that continued to cripple the power utility with unpaid electricity bills
Mileham said the DA would challenge the government’s plans in the Gauteng High Court.
He added that this has laid bare the chaos that was currently prevailing in President Ramaphosa’s government on the energy front.
Mileham urges the public should raise their concerns through public participation hearings about this increase to prevent Nersa from granting Eskom’s proposal.
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