Nersa’s decision opens the way for energy sector reform
29 June 2015
The Democratic Alliance (DA) gladly welcomes today’s decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to reject Eskom’s application for a 25.3% tariff hike for the 2015-16 financial year.
This decision ought to be hailed as a victory for all electricity consumers, for our economy and for every unemployed South African.
Despite ongoing pressure by government and the ruling alliance, Nersa demonstrated true independence today by refusing to be strong armed into exorbitant tariff increases that would have had disastrous consequences for our economy.
It is unthinkable that Eskom expected an increase of that nature which would have been an external shock to our economy, resulting in a massive reduction in jobs, an unsustainable increase in input costs, and the unavoidable closure of many small and medium sized firms across South Africa.