AfriForum will act if NERSA approves an irrational power tariff

27 August 2024 

The civil rights organisation AfriForum says it will participate in the public consultation process to prevent the implementation of an irrational power tariff increase and is also ready to take legal action if the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) should decide to approve Eskom’s application for an excessive tariff increase. According to reports, Eskom is requesting a tariff increase of 36%.

NERSA indicated yesterday that it had received Eskom’s application for tariff increases for the 2025/2026, 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 financial years. Prescribed processes, including the determination of whether all the regulatory requirements have been met as well as public consultation during which the public can also express their concerns or support, will now have to be followed.

The energy regulator has repeatedly promised to carry out thorough prudency tests towards Eskom to determine which parts of the power giant’s application can be excluded or transferred to the consumer. AfriForum urges NERSA to live up to these promises for the sake of the end consumer.

“AfriForum has been participating in this tariff processes for the past eight years and we will continue to participate in these processes to ensure that the energy sector complies with the legislative framework,” says Morné Mostert, manager of Local Government Affairs at AfriForum. “We will not allow Eskom or NERSA to trample power consumers with unfair tariff increases and will constantly participate in the process to ensure that action is taken in the interests of consumers.”

AfriForum has proven in the past that it will not tolerate unfair power tariff increases, such as those recently implemented by numerous municipalities after they were approved as such by NERSA.

Issued by Morne Mostert, Manager: Local Government Affairs, AfriForum, 27 August 2024