MyPE

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Electricity Rate Increase Must be Accompanied by an Improvement in Service

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Kevin Hustler, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, had the following to say about the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality electricity rates increase; “The Chamber raises a concern regarding the excessive electricity tariff increase, which is well over the Eskom tariff increase. At the same time, the effects of the city’s aging electricity infrastructure are felt regularly – often on a weekly basis – by industry in the form of power failures. These are often caused by failing and faulty, aging equipment. We emphatically insist that the income from the increased tariffs be applied to fund greatly needed maintenance and upgrading of the aging electricity network.

This inflated price increase poses a severe challenge to industry, which is struggling to cope with increased input costs.

This impacts on the competitiveness of local industry in the international market and increases the threat of business failures and job losses, which the city can ill afford.

Increases in rates and tariffs, when not accompanied by improvements in services, impact negatively on business as an input cost. The increase will also be passed on to consumers, who themselves have to manage tight household budgets in the face of increased domestic electricity tariffs and other rising costs such as fuel and food.”

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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.