Johannesburg - If consumers would still like to comment on Eskom’s proposed 16.6-percent tariff increase, they should act fast: The two final hearings by the National Electricity Regulator of SA (Nersa) are being held on Thursday and Friday.
The Opposition for Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) will be making a submission against the increases at the Gauteng hearings to be held at Gallagher Estate.
Read: Reject Eskom tariff hike, Cosatu urges
Even though the date for formal submissions has closed, Outa has established a portal through which electricity customers can still object or comment, and Nersa is open to receiving the online submissions.
Outa chairman Wayne Duvenhage said following reports that some Nersa hearings around the country had been cancelled as a result of a “lack of interest” from the public, Outa had contracted energy analyst and ex-Eskom executive Ted Blom to head up its challenge and objections to Eskom’s tariff increase request at the hearings on Friday.
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Outa launched a similar portal for people to object to the amendments to the e-tolls act and received a record 123 000 objections.
“The problem with the public is that people don’t want to stand in town halls at public meetings. Another problem is that the majority of people do not understand the technical and complicated issues around the increase,” Duvenhage said.
The portal, which was launched yesterday, has had a few thousand comments.
On the portal, the main issues have been unpacked and electricity users will be able to read Outa’s opinion on them.
Duvenhage explained that Eskom had a claim of R22.8 billion in terms of the Regulatory Clearing Account despite making a profit of R7.1bn in the 2013/14 financial year.
Outa, he said, believed this was unjust and that most of the claim should have been averted through more prudent management in numerous areas by Eskom’s leadership.
“This is Outa’s first major project outside the e-toll matter, and while the organisation will remain focused on halting the e-toll scheme, our executives believe the request for exorbitant tariff increases by Eskom require serious challenging, along with the exposure of many ill-conceived actions by the parastatal, before it is allowed to simply pass on its problems to a highly stressed public purse,” he said.
Blom will be presenting as Outa’s representative at the hearings at Gallagher Estate on Friday.
Duvenhage said further that notwithstanding the fact that the official period for public submissions was technically closed, Outa urgently invited the public to have their say on the hike request by visiting Outa’s website at www.outa.co.za.
“The greater the participation, the better Outa will be empowered to illustrate to Nersa and Eskom the extent of public interest and outrage, thereby refuting the assertion that there is a general lack of interest and thus acceptance by the public,” he said.
Nersa spokesman Charles Hlebela said that although the time for comment had come and gone, the regulator would still consider all submissions made through Outa.
@annacox
THE STAR