AfriForum brings an urgent application regarding municipal electricity tariff hikes
NERSA probably disregards court order and legislation – AfriForum
9 June 2024
The civil rights organisation AfriForum brought an urgent application in the High Court in Pretoria against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). According to this application, AfriForum wants to prevent the regulator from considering municipalities’ applications for electricity tariff increases, which must be implemented on 1 July this year, without the required cost studies. Under a High Court order of October 2022, a cost study is required as part of municipalities’ applications for tariff increases. This is also prescribed by the Electricity Regulation Act 4 of 2006.
According to Morné Mostert, Manager of Local Government Affairs at AfriForum, the use of a cost study for tariff increases is critical because it gives a clear outline of what municipalities’ tariffs must be to deliver the service properly and maintain networks. “The applications of municipalities that do not have cost studies are simply based on an estimate of what it costs to provide the service. However, applications for tariff increases must be made on accurately calculated figures that will ensure that fair tariff increases are passed on to consumers,” explains Mostert.
NERSA has in the past used guidelines based on previous years’ tariffs as well as price bands for determining municipalities’ tariff increases. However, this was banned by the High Court order of October 2022.