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Business Chamber vows to continue to fight proposed unreasonable electricity tariff increases

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber is extremely disappointed by the news of Eskom’s request for a 19.9% tariff increase next year.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) this week announced its intention to commence with regulatory processes in considering Eskom’s revenue application for 2018/19. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber deems an increase of this magnitude as crippling in the current economic climate and, if implemented, the proposed increase could have disastrous consequences for local business and the economy.

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber President Thomas Schaefer said a 19.9% increase would be commercially devastating in the current economic climate.

The 19.9% increase is expected to translate to a 27.5% municipal tariff adjustment on July 1, 2018.

“Not only will such an increase be crippling, but in view of the recent disclosures and reports regarding rampant maladministration and governance failures at Eskom, business and commerce is compelled to continue in its endeavours to hold both Eskom and the Regulator accountable for their actions, in the interest of the public,” Schaefer said.

On top of the proposed 19% increase, it is feared that Eskom will also be seeking to recoup additional revenue in relation to the expired MYPD3 Period (extending from 2013 – 2018) of up to R60-billion. No decision has yet been made as to how the regulator would deal this. Given the severe impact on members and the public if Eskom is allowed to recover the proposed tariff increases within next year’s electricity tariff hike, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber believes it has no option but to continue lobbying on behalf of our members on this crucial issue.

“We call on all businesses, locally and nationally, to make their voices heard by submitting written comments before the set deadline of October 13. We want to assure our members that the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber will be making robust submissions, as well as attend the public hearings in the Eastern Cape and elsewhere in the country if required. We call on our members to attend the hearing on November 1 in Port Elizabeth, to show their support,” Schaefer said.

Eskom’s revenue application for 2018/19 is available on the NERSA website at www.nersa.org.za

Written comment on Eskom’s application, or proposed submissions to be made to the Regulator can be forwarded to mypd@nersa.org.za The closing date for the comments is 13 October 2017

Members who wish to attend the public hearing on November 1 must submit their requests to publichearings@nersa.org.za by 15:30 on 23 October 2017.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.